You could tell CJ Stander was up for this one, even before Munster’s Champions Cup match started.
No time to be reading programmes.
Time to lay down some hurt.
From the kick-off at Thomond Park, this afternoon, Stander was keyed up. He made one bullocking, 30-metre line-break before finding Conor Murray in supporter.
You can't leave the fringes exposed around the likes of CJ Stander. Tigers exposed off a first phase turnover ruck pic.twitter.com/spaoEYrr2w
— Three Red Kings (@threeredkings) December 10, 2016
He was injured in the process but there was no way he was leaving this pitch until Leicester Tigers got the message – it was Munster’s day.
After a spot of treatment, he bounced right back up.
CJ ain’t going anywhere! pic.twitter.com/rlwSqOAKPq
— Patrick McCarry (@patmccarry) December 10, 2016
Darren Sweetnam and Conor Murray had great halves, as did Tyler Bleyendaal and try-scorer Simon Zebo, but Stander was outstanding.
He always starts at a sprint but the opening 40 was impressive even by his standards.
After 40 minutes, Stander had made a whopping 15 carries for 62 metres gained. That included the break, three defenders left in his charging wake and one sweet offload.
He made his tackles too – landing three big hits in defence – and managed two turnovers while he was at it. Oh, and he won Munster a penalty that Bleyendaal knocked over.
19-0 at the break but Stander wasn’t done yet.
CJ Stander's game
20 carries
67 metres gained
3 defenders beaten
2 offloads
10 successful tackles
4 turnovers
1 MOTM award pic.twitter.com/a6yVSQxGIu— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) December 10, 2016
Man-of-the-match for the umpteenth time since he arrived in Ireland.
Some going from a hell of a player.
It is exactly the reason why a reporter over from England to cover Leicester’s European campaign asked Rassie Erasmus if the flanker was in the British & Irish Lions picture.
Erasmus tried to be as polite as possible but he was not surprised the question was asked. No-one was.
Diarmuid Connolly makes his long overdue GAA Hour debut and talks to Colm Parkinson about everything from the black card to his rivalry with Lee Keegan and how he honed the ability to kick accurately with either foot.
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