SOUTH AFRICAN-BORN Munster and Ireland back row CJ Stander was tonight named as the 2016 Player of the Year by the Rugby Writers of Ireland.
The 26-year-old powerhouse captained Munster in the second half of last season during Peter O’Mahony’s injury absence and made his international debut in the Six Nations opener against Wales.
Stander has brought an unquenchable thirst for work and an enormous amount of direct physicality to the Ireland back row.
Though his return to South Africa brought heartbreak as he was red carded just 23 minutes into the opening Test against the Springboks, he could at least take consolation in the fact that his team-mates rallied to record a first-ever win on South African soil.
Of course, there was to be an even bigger landmark for Irish rugby and Stander unquestionably played a huge role in the ending of 111 years of All Black torment with 14 big tackles and eight hard carries – including a try-scoring barge through Jerome Kaino – in the 40-29 win over New Zealand in Chicago’s Soldier Field.
Before kick-off that day, Stander stood with his Munster team-mates at the front of a figure of eight line-up Ireland formed in honour of Anthony Foley during New Zealand’s haka.
Having worn the Munster number eight jersey since arriving in Limerick in 2012, Stander is acutely aware of the significance of his role in the team. And since Foley’s death he has spoken eloquently on many occasions about the man who welcomed him to the Munster pack.
“My heart is with Olive, Dan and Tony. It was great to see them on the pitch, it was massive,” said Stander after wearing the number 24 when the number eight shirt was temporarily retired for the hyper-emotional Champions Cup win over Glasgow at Thomond Park
I think everyone deals with emotion differently during the week and I wasn’t really emotional, crying, but I felt the loss inside me. When I saw the two boys walking onto the pitch, that’s when I broke down.
“The next few days and next few years are going to be tough for them and they’re going to miss a big man in their life, their father. I feel so sorry for their loss. I know he meant the world to them, he meant the world to me.”
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