Shane Horgan: Time for CJ Stander to step up for Munster and Ireland

CJ Stander must fill the Munster leadership vacuum if the province are to succeed in Europe this season and he is to force his way into an Ireland jersey, says double European winner Shane Horgan.

Former Leinster wing Horgan, now a Sky Sports analyst, believes of the three Irish provinces getting their Champions Cup pool campaigns under way this weekend, Munster are best placed to progress to next April’s quarter-finals. The presence of an Italian side in Pool 4 alongside Leicester and Stade Francais means they have an advantage to exploit, Horgan said.

Munster, though, will need newly-Irish qualified back-rower Stander to help forge a new leadership group in a squad missing departed Paul O’Connell, prematurely retired Felix Jones and long-term injured Peter O’Mahony. If the stand-in skipper can do that, then his desire to become an Ireland player will be closer to realisation.