Penney says Springbok utility-man will bulk up Munster’s back-row options

New Munster coach Rob Penney had no involvement in the signing of back-rower CJ Stander from South Africa, but yesterday he fully endorsed the decision to lure the Blue Bulls star to Ireland.

Stander had barely landed in Limerick before he was whisked away for an intensive medical and fitness examination before Penney spoke excitedly by declaring: “Jeez, I hope he comes here and rips it up.”

But Stander won’t be expected to produce anything too soon, with Penney not making any immediate demands: “He is only just arrived fresh off the plane, he just going to be settling into the Munster environment and the Munster way over the next week or so. Obviously we have a break in games then, so he will be doing a lot of homework to make sure he is as prepped as he can be for when the opportunity comes for him.”