It’s this group’s first chance of a Grand Slam – we have to grab it
Clean sweep would show we’re building something special, insists Stander
‘IT’S GOING TO BE A TOUGH, PHYSICAL BATTLE IN ENGLAND’
IT IS almost hard to believe that CJ Stander has only been an Ireland international for two years. Since coming into Joe Schmidt’s squad back in 2016, Stander has quickly become a mainstay of this dogged, determined side and is one of its key onfield leaders. Such a trait came to the fore in the gruelling 41-phase win that kick-started this Six Nations winning run that has now placed Ireland one game away from a first Grand Slam since 2009.
Johnny Sexton may have received all the plaudits for that Paris victory after his drop-goal heroics, but Stander’s workload in the build-up play was phenomenal.
He described that experience as ‘going to a dark place’, but now, five weeks later, Ireland can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
In Twickenham next Saturday, Stander will collect his first medal as an international player, but such is the competitive nature of this squad that anything less than a Grand Slam will seem like a disappointment.
When Ireland last tasted Slam success, the South African was making his way through the Academy system at Pretoria’s Blue Bulls, but speaking after yesterday’s win over Scotland, the 27-year-old admitted he is totally up to speed on the significance attached to completing a clean sweep in this tournament.
‘I have spoken to players and heard it from ex-players the players that played in 2009 and got it [the Grand Slam],’ he explained.
‘This group, we haven’t had the opportunity. We can surely look back at how they went into it and what it meant for them afterwards.
‘Now we have got the big one at the end of this week so we have to rest up and train well so that we can get to the weekend and perform there [in Twickenham].’
Much has been written about the strength in depth available to Schmidt with this current group of players, and Stander admitted that there is a sense that something special is building.
Of the team that started against Scotland, five players are 25-yearsold or younger and four are playing in their first Six Nations tournament.
‘It’s a great opportunity [for the squad]. You set goals for yourself at the beginning of the year and something that you try to be as part of the team,’ he continued.
‘We said as a group we want to achieve something. That [Grand Slam] is something that was probably in the back of the mind. We played well and won our last few games, got lucky as well in a few games. I think some games we were physically dominant. It’s a great achievement for this group and hopefully we can push on from there.’
Of course, any member of this squad is quick to mention that there are always areas to improve on, and yesterday Scotland followed in the footsteps of France, Italy and Wales by breaking down the Irish defence in the second half with Blair Kinghorn’s 51st-minute try.
The Ireland No 8 admitted that the tendency to concede in the second half is a real concern ahead of facing Eddie Jones’ England, who will be hurting after successive defeats to Scotland and France.
‘There was a lot of talk in camp about what we can do [to fix that]. Andy Farrell gives us all the tools during the week and we just need to go out there and perform for him. He is a very passionate man so I think it was just small errors by a few individuals in the last game [against Wales] that gave them tries.
‘We want to go out there and show that we can defend the way we want to, defend for the team and for him and make sure we get in front of them and deny them those tries,’ added Stander.
As for the challenge ahead, the Munster man is expecting a backlash from Jones’ England, particularly given the fact that it was Ireland who spoiled England’s Grand Slam ambitions on the final day of action 12 months ago.
‘It is going to be a tough physical battle. I think the way they play they get their forwards in the game in the back line, control the game. It’s something we need to stop.
‘I think we have to make sure we recover well, [that’s] two big games now in a row. It has been a long campaign, [it is important to] make sure you know what you are doing on the pitch and make sure you know what you stand for and what you are playing for.’
Given what this team have shown over the past few weeks, Stander may soon be setting his sights on even bigger prizes.