High praise from the former England and Lions centre
CJ Stander has been putting in some ferocious shifts for the guts of five seasons now. Since February 2016, he’s been doing the same for Ireland.
A hero to the Munster faithful from the get-go, Stander quickly added to his legend when he pulled on a green jersey for the first time.
Following a Six Nations in which he topped the carry count [104] and landed 53 of his 54 tackle attempts, he refocused of provincial duties and played through the pain barrier in Champions Cup quarter and semi finals. He was only supposed to play 50 minutes against Saracens but was out there until the bitter end.
What a hero https://t.co/e457vt4eYm
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 24, 2017
The drive and commitment of Stander cannot be doubted and former Munster teammate Donncha O’Callaghan puts much of it down to his work with late Munster coach Anthony Foley. O’Callaghan told The Hard Yards rugby podcast:
“Axel did an incredible job making him earn his stripes. If you look at his first season, he had to work very hard to get any game time and that kept him on a really short leash. I think that made him really hungry to push on so every time he got a chance, he knew he has to be brilliant.”
Brilliant just about sums it up.
He was brilliant in the 40-29 victory over New Zealand at Soldier Field, Chicago. Post-match, an ecstatic Stander was thinking of Foley, who had passed away just three weeks previous. He told us:
“I just think of what man he was, the legend he was. What he gave to me as a rugby player.
“In that 60th minute when I got tired, I was just thinking, ‘why am I playing this match? Who got me there?’ Everything he gave to me. That was massive for me.”
Perhaps it is that indefatigable spirit that drove former England and Lions star Will Greenwood to produce one of the best ever quotes about Stander. Writing in a Lions preview for The Telegraph, Greenwood declares:
“[Stander is] a force of nature. Incredible willingness to carry the ball, to run himself into the ground. CJ Stander would empty the tank in a five-a-side pub football match.
“He gives total commitment, energy and desire to win games for his team.”
Perfectly put by Greenwood, a three-time Lion and a World Cup winner in 2003.
Remind us to avoid Stander if we ever come across him in a five-a-side pub football match.
