Ready to stand and fight for his place

Watching CJ Stander give crack smiles and dish out bear hugs in Thomond Park’s renovated Dug Out Bar earlier this week was to witness a guy comfortable in his surroundings and in his own skin.

Anything but the clichéd dour Springbok, Stander has integrated effortlessly into the culture. Paul O’Connell spoke last season about how he was the “life and soul” of the gym and a willing performer on the comedy circuit at the back of the bus.

Life on the pitch has been less seamless, however. A finger injury soon after his arrival didn’t help and fleeting appearances off the bench came to be his lot as he handled what former coach Rob Penney labelled a massive learning curve on arriving in Ireland.

But that graph exploded upwards six months ago.

O’Connell made his observations about the former Bull last April on foot of Stander’s standout 61-minute display against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup semi-final when the South African replaced the injured Peter O’Mahony.

“He’s been disappointed with selection all year but he’s a role model in how to deal with that,” said O’Connell at the time. “He stays positive and trains hard. I’m delighted for him. He’s everything you want from a foreign player.”

That patience finally looks like it is paying off, what with his form towards the end of the last campaign and the fresh start that comes with any new coach, Anthony Foley in this case.

It says something about his first two seasons that he still found himself being asked this week about what his favoured spot in the back row is. As it turned out, six and eight are his preferences.

“I played eight the first game against Gloucester and then six last week (against London Irish). My role will change. He knows what sort of player I am and I know what type of player I am. We will see where my role goes through the season.”

Stander saw an hour of action in that opening pre-season encounter against Gloucester and featured alongside new No.8 Robin Copeland last Friday against the Exiles.

“Rob is an athlete and a great player. It is good to have him in the squad and see how the guy develops. Just on the training field you can see him getting into the game plan so I’m excited for him.”

The competition for places at the back of the scrum will make for interesting viewing. Peter O’Mahony remains the standard-bearer at six, of course, or will be once he returns from his post-shoulder surgery rehab.

Stander knows that will complicate his own situation.

“With a guy like Peter, he is an international and the captain so you know he is coming back to play. I just want to play game to game and week to week and see when he comes back what way the pack is shuffled.”

Whatever his place in the firmament this season, it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which he doesn’t make a significant impact and no doubt Joe Schmidt will take an interest.

The Ireland coach hasn’t been in touch with the player who qualifies to represent the country under IRB rules in November 2015 when, with the 2015 World Cup just over, the focus will be on a new four-year cycle.

“I try to leave that until the time comes. It is there, for sure. Everyone wants to be the best rugby player they can be and play on the best stage you can so it is always in the back of your head, but I’ll just leave that to next year. If it works out, it works out.”

Players such as Richardt Strauss, Robbie Diack and Rodney Ah You have all shown that the three-year wait under residency rules can pay off and Stander knows there are benefits to having to serve your time too.

“When the internationals are away you get a lot of game time. You have to almost be a leader because there are new guys coming into the squad. It helps you a bit. Some guys are eager to play on the best stage, but it is also nice to work on your game.”

A big season awaits.