From now on, we should just assume that CJ Stander is in every single XV of the weekend.
The Munster back-row added to his genuinely ridiculous haul of Man of the Match awards on Saturday when he picked up his fourth of the season, prompting many supporters to suggest that the awarding of the prize may as well take place before kick-off as Stander had become a weekly shoe-in for the award.
Stander put in an inspired performance as Munster downed Racing 92 for the second time in as many weeks, guaranteeing Rassie Erasmus’ side a home Champions Cup quarter-final.
It will come as no surprise, then, that Stander was selected at number 8 by French publication, Midi Olympique, in their Champions Cup Team of the Week.
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After Saturday’s 22-10 victory over Racing at Thomond Park, Munster remarked that their captain had accumulated a staggering 18 Man of the Match awards since joining the province in 2012.
Stander is joined by provincial and international compatriot Simon Zebo as the only two representatives of Irish provinces on the list this week.
Zebo scored his sixth try in four games against Munster’s Parisian opponents at the weekend and is in the form of his life, which will come as welcome news for Irish supporters who have the Six Nations opener against Scotland to look forward to in two weeks time.
