CJ Stander: Time for Munster to stand up and fight

There was a time not so very long ago when Connacht teams dreaded travelling to Thomond Park to take on Munster. Invariably, they made their way down the N18 on the back of a string of poor results to tackle a side at, or very close to, the top of the rugby tree in front of their own famed Red Army. For 29 long years, the result was familiar.

These days, though, it looks as if the shoe is very much on the other foot, and it is Munster’s turn to fear what may lie in wait when they take on Pat Lam’s rampaging squad and their own fanatical support at the Sportsground on Saturday night. This season has been very much about Connacht’s attractive football and magnificent run of impressive results compared to a succession of poor and uninspiring performances by Munster.

Connacht won for the first time since 1986 at Thomond Park at Christmas and are intent on completing the double this time around. Munster captain CJ Stander may have been one of the inspirational figures in the Irish Six Nations squad but he appreciates what he and his players can expect in the return leg.