Stander savours a birthday to remember

Paul O’Connell put Peter O’Mahony’s injury and the introduction of CJ Stander into perspective last Saturday: “He’s going to be a huge loss but go back to Declan Kidney, every injury is an opportunity for someone else and players can respond like CJ did today.”

Stander fully understands that Munster philosophy now. Signed from the Blue Bulls in 2012 as a project player to develop into a full Irish international one day, he has had to wait patiently for that opportunity while fellow young guns Tommy O’Donnell, Peter O’Mahony and Sean Dougall have all stepped up to the mark.

Saturday was Stander’s big day, however. The day he fully launched himself onto the Munster scene and it was no surprise to see him named man of the match on his 24th birthday.