A big call.
Eddie O’Sullivan claims he’d keep CJ Stander in the Ireland team for the summer tour of South Africa, at the expense of Sean O’Brien.
The former Ireland coach appeared on RTE’s Against The Head alongside Brent Pope and Donal Lenihan, and the trio picked their starting XV for the tour’s opening game against the Springboks on June 11 in Cape Town.
O’Brien, who suffered a hamstring injury in Ireland’s Six Nations loss to France last month, should be fit for the tour, posing a back row selection headache for Joe Schmidt.
Pope and Lenihan went for the trio of Peter O’Mahony, Jamie Heaslip and O’Brien, but O’Sullivan felt Stander’s impressive form warranted his inclusion.
When asked who should miss out, O’Sullivan said:”O’Brien I think, actually.”
“You have to keep O’Mahony for his lineout. I think Stander would force his way into the back row at the moment. His work rate is superb.”
“He has a full Six Nations under his belt and he has delivered in every game.”
