MUNSTER RUGBY HAVE today announced CJ Stander as their Player of the Year for the 2014/15 campaign.
The South African powerhouse – who will qualify to play for Ireland later this year – scored eight tries in 22 appearances this campaign and is the first overseas player to be honoured as Player of the Year and he scooped the award ahead of fellow back-row Tommy O’Donnell and Billy Holland.
The shortlist of three names had been decided by a squad vote, with a public vote deciding the winner from the shortlist of three.
Among the 10 other honours handed out on the day: Tralee flanker Ciara Griffin was named Womens’ Player of the Year.
Meanwhile 24-year-old hooker Duncan Casey was named Young Player of the Year with Academy Player of the Year going to Jack O’Donoghue.
100% deserves it
By a country mile best player I wonder what was said in his email
Well deserved. Can’t wait to see him in the Irish jersey. Himself and SOB will make a lot of ground between them.
6 POM 7 SOB 8 Stander with JOD off the bench makes for some very exciting and powerful backrow options in the coming years, even more if Henderson doesn’t wind up at lock!
It’s be useful especially if Ireland came up against a team that has the scrum has their strongpoint, such as (ironically) South Africa and Argentina.
Other teams, you could argue that Jordi Murphy deserves a place there in the back row.
Ha! You always amuse Rochelle.
Henderson’s place is at lock once POC hangs up them massive boots. We need a dynamic ball-carrier enforcer type 2nd row to balance up with Toner for the next few years.
Hope CJ, JM and JH push each other on to great things.
Big Duncan Williams unlucky to miss out.
I should have known…..
Robson, you can feck off, you parasite.
Duncan Casey named young player of the year, Philip Ryan won’t be happy with that.
Have you stirred the hornet’s nest, Gary? :)
Conor, I think phil has been banned. There hasn’t been any vitriol coming from him in a while.
No Gary I’m just relaxin enjoying my rugby!
Ah, good man Philip.
To be fair, Munster young player of the year is a bit of a sham. There’s 2 players at best coming through each year worth a mention, usually 1 of them a signing. Jack O’Donoghue probably deserved on the basis that not only is he a very promising player, but also that there’s absolutely nothing else coming through.
17 players in the Munster squad (just shy of half) are non home grown to the province, that increases next season. They’re basically Connacht with a budget.
That’s some dour commentary from bbc alba
Whats the love in with billy holland…guy is red raw useless contributes nothin on the field of play
He’s had a fantastic season, some people need to update their opinion on them. He wasn’t called up to Schmidt’s Six Nations squad for being “useless” or for his apparent ability to “contribute nothing”.
I’d have gone for Denis Hurley
What about the other nominee, the invisible man??
Duncan Williams has turned down a 5 year deal with Toulon.
His book: The Lollipop Man, life and times of Ruck Inspector is due out this summer.
While Stander is a real specimen, his ball skills and decision making aren’t at the level needed to secure a starting place for Ireland. He can’t pass, carries the ball in the wrong hand and ignores overlaps. Doesn’t have the subtlety to shine when he’s matched physically
I would disagree with some of that but i think his best position is 6.. i agree he lacks the sublties of an 8 especially when his scrum is on the retreat… cj at 6, pom at 7, Copeland at 8 is a serious back row with tod as cover
I’m not bashing the guy, he’ll get plenty of game time for Munster but with Conan, and O’ donoghue in the wings behind obrien, Murphy , Henderson , Pom ,Heaslip and Henry I just don’t think he’ll play that often for Ireland. joe Schmidt demand a bit more discipline and accuracy than we’ve seen from cj thus far.