CJ Stander performance one of the truly great Test debuts in Irish rugby

CJ Stander’s performance? It had nothing on his rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann, apparently.

Awarded man of the match honours, after what must rank as one of the truly great Test debuts in Irish rugby history, the man from George in South Africa felt his vocal efforts were even better. Or so he insisted when asked how his oral audition rated.

“I was very emotional. It was my first time getting out there in front of the president, all the supporters, you know? I’d say 10 (out of ten),” he laughed. “I was happy enough to be next to Tommy (O’Donnell) and (Conor) Murray and when I got lost here and there it was easy enough to jump in. Donnacha Ryan stepped up this week and learned (sic) me a few words, learned me the whole thing, I tried to make him proud.”

Not just him, but his family here and back home as well. His wife jean-Marie? “I think she’s still crying, I’m going to see her now.”

Perfectly understandable given the leap of faith they took in making the move to Ireland. “I never thought I’d get this chance and today, this week, was one of the most emotional weeks I’ve had. Walking down from the hotel, to the pitch, it’s goose bumps stuff. I’m humbled by this opportunity.I’m glad to get it.”

He learned the anthem on YouTube, incidentally, the words taken down phonetically, but it took him time to find his voice in his new surroundings with Joe Schmidt revealing last week just how surprisingly quiet the Munster captain had been for the last two weeks.

“It was great to get into the camp but I’m a new face and I don’t want to start talking out of place,” he explained last night. “I want to see how the set-up works.”

He intends to pipe up a bit more now. That right has been earned and his integration into the national team, allied to impressive shifts by Tommy O’Donnell and Rhys Ruddock yesterday, showedjust how spoiled Ireland are for flankers right now.

Stander made a game- leading 23 carries yesterday – and all for 40 yards. It sounds like a small return for such effort but these were gains made amidst the madness of the ‘pick n’ go’ world of a blindside flanker. So, two metres per carry? An incredible effort.

Time and again, whether in rugby or soccer, players and coaches talk about needing a handful of games to adapt to the demands of the international game. Stander was front and centre from the first minute and he was there come the last as well.

“It’s funny because you play against the boys in the Pro12 and European games and then you get out there today and it’s a massive step-up in intensity.Everything was a big step-up. The first 20 minutes was tough going but after that you get used to it, you get your second breath and you just play your game. I was delighted with that.”