Murray Kinsella reports from Soldier Field
IT WAS AN incredible show of pure strength and clever technique from CJ Stander, as he won the ultimate shoulder battle against Jerome Kaino.
The two-time World Cup winner was in a solid position on the left fringe of a close-range ruck, and he got low in his tackle on Stander, but the Munster man dipped virtually onto the ground and then shunted his way forward to create the momentum required to score.
The action almost seemed to be in slow motion, but Stander had the brute force – combined with the technique – to dot down for Ireland’s second try. A vital moment in the incredible 40-29 victory.
Stander added in six further carries over the course of the 80 or so minutes, hammering into 11 tackles in a powerful performance. Against the best team on the planet, the 26-year-old knew he would have to bring such quality.
“We spoke about that during the week – going up against the best in the world, you have to perform your best,” said Stander after Ireland’s win at Soldier Field.
It was an unbelievable performance from all the boys and it gives us a bit of a confidence boost. But they’re coming over in two weeks’ time and we’re going to have to pick up the stuff we left on the pitch.
“There was a few mistakes here and there, and stuff we did good. We have to build on that.”
Typically, Stander and Ireland are already looking forward – although even head coach Joe Schmidt stressed the need to enjoy this moment.
It was an emotional occasion for all involved, with several of the players clearly still on shaky ground emotionally as they spoke to the media in the tunnel post-match.
The pre-match figure of eight in honour of Anthony Foley only added to the sense of these players having done something truly special.
“We spoke about it during the week and for me, Murray, all of the Munster boys, to be at the front of that was big,” said Stander.
“The same as the Glasgow match, we just wanted to give something back to him and he meant a lot to me. He was really a rock in my rugby for the last four years and he helped me a lot with what he’d learned over the years. I think he pushed me to the next level.”
What was going Stander’s mind in that moment, as he faced the haka?
You just think of what type of man he was and what type of legend he was, and what he gave to me as a rugby player,” said Stander.
“In the 60th minute when you got tired, you just think of why you’re in this match and who got you there. Everything you give to him and this match was really for him.”
Stander was understandably fatigued as he spoke before heading off to the post-match banquet, with this thriller having gone down to the wire.
“I think when Robbie [Henshaw] scored our last try, it just gave us a bit of confidence,” said Stander when asked at what point he knew the deal was sealed.
“We knew they score a lot of points in the last 20. We got back, they scored a try and I felt that we went back there and the endurance we showed as a team to go, ‘We have this.’ We had to go back, secure the ball and win the game. They can score two tries in three minutes.”
But while the rest of us may have doubted Ireland, Stander and his team-mates believed in their ability to make history.
I just think we work hard as a group and we do everything early in the week so that when we get to the match, we can just be physical.
“Because the guy next to you is going to have your back and you’re going to have his back. We go out as a team and do everything for each other.”
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