He was the first name mentioned when Warren Gatland was asked about the upcoming Test Series against New Zealand.
The British & Irish Lions showed they will not be rolling over for New Zealand’s top club sides after they out-thought and out-muscled Super Rugby frontrunners Crusaders in Christchurch.
The Lions won 12-3 but, in reality, it could have been more with Jonathan Davies, Anthony Watson and CJ Stander all spurning chances to score tries.
Lions head coach Warren Gatland was absolutely delighted that his side bounced back from the midweek loss to Auckland Blues and he noted one familiar Ireland star when asked about the Test Series against the All Blacks.
That's more flippin' like it ladshttps://t.co/YNzr38kYSN
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 10, 2017
Gatland started to praise the starting back row – Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Toby Faletau – before checking himself. He continued:
“I thought the guys coming off the bench were outstanding. CJ Stander and Maro Itoje were outstanding.
“The front row [including Jack McGrath] coming off the bench were excellent. we lost two of our backs in the first half – Stuart Hogg and Jonathan Davies – and we had to react to that. That was a pleasing aspect to us.”
Gatland also praised the Lions for putting the Crusaders lineout under pressure, with both O’Mahony and George Kruis doing superbly there.
Stander was definitely busy when he came off the bench for the final quarter – making seven carries for 13 metres gained and a lot of front-foot ball. He twice went close to getting is name on the score-sheet and will rue that dropped pass after Johnny Sexton had got the Lions motoring down the left wing.
Lions legend Ian McGeechan called the matchday 23 against the Crusaders a solid Test 23 and it was hard to argue.
Stander will be hoping to nip ahead of Faletau for that Test No.8 jersey but Gatland may now be looking at both him and Itoje as impact subs for the three-Test series.
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