‘Best still to come from CJ’

He may be Munster’s standout performer this season, but the province are still to see the best of CJ Stander, believes coach Ian Costello.

The 24-year-old South African, signed from the Blue Bulls two seasons ago, has overcome a difficult start to life in European rugby, but Munster are now seeing the rewards after a series of outstanding performances from the dynamic back rower.

Stander was man of the match in back-to-back games earlier this month against Scarlets in the Guinness Pro12 and the Champions Cup win at Sale Sharks, where he carried for 104 metres in a performance of power and physicality that continued into last Friday’s 14-3 win over Saracens.