CJ Stander
Munster will face Glasgow Warriors in the Guinness PRO12 final in Ravenhill after an incredible 21 / 18 win over Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Josh Matavesi crossed at the death for what would have been the winning try for the Ospreys but a knock-on in the build-up meant the try was ruled out and Munster progressed to the final.
It was an absorbing 1st half with Simon Zebo’s try just before the interval leaving Munster 11 / 3 ahead.
An action-packed 1st 13 minutes of the 2nd half saw both sides cross for 2 tries with Denis Hurley and Paddy Butler touching down for Munster.
Despite some fierce Ospreys pressure, Munster hung on and, although it looked like the Ospreys had snatched the win late on through Matavesi, the earlier infringement meant the score was ruled out with the final whistle immediately sounding to spark wild celebrations.
Paul O’Connell, who admitted afterwards that it may be his last appearance at Thomond Park, led the players out to salute the outstanding crowd afterwards with Munster’s campaign ending in the PRO12 final next week.
Ospreys made a strong start and owned the ball for nearly the entire 1st 6 minutes. Dan Biggar pulled a drop goal wide after less than 80 seconds with brilliant defence keeping the Munster line intact.
After surviving the initial onslaught, it was then the hosts’ chance to attack and the impressive Stephen Archer was bundled into touch just yards from the Ospreys line after a decent spell of pressure.
Ospreys then enjoyed another good period and were rewarded with a Dan Biggar penalty on 13 minutes as they took the lead.
A high tackle at the other end gave Ian Keatley his 1st opportunity shortly afterwards and he made no mistake with the penalty to level matters. Conor Murray then limped off with a leg injury to be replaced by Duncan Williams, who went on to have an excellent game. Keatley gave Munster a 6 / 3 lead after a rolling maul was illegally halted on 23 minutes.
The pivotal score of the half came just before the break with Simon Zebo finishing off a superb team move in the left corner. It all started with a solid scrum on halfway as Williams found Keatley whose inside pass found the oncoming CJ Stander, later awarded man-of-the-match, in space. The South African then passed it to Paddy Butler who unselfishly fed Zebo to finish in the left corner. Keatley missed the conversion but Munster went in 11 / 3 ahead at the break.
A breathtaking opening 13 minutes of the 2nd half saw both attacks take control with 2 tries apiece. Denis Hurley shrugged off Eli Walker to touch down in the right corner less than 3 minutes after the interval to make it 16 / 3 to Munster.
Ospreys were back in it 4 minutes later, however, as a blind pass off the back of the scrum by Stander was intercepted by Rhys Webb to scoot over in the right corner. Biggar pulled the conversion left and Munster led 16 / 8 with 48 minutes on the clock.
Butler burst over from short range on 50 minutes to restore the Munster lead after some great work by the outstanding Dave Kilcoyne. But Jeff Hassler hit back for Ospreys after racing in from halfway following Zebo’s loose kick with Biggar’s conversion reducing the gap to just 6 after 53 minutes.
Biggar slotted a penalty on 67 minutes to make it a 3-point game after the injured Simon Zebo was helped from play with Ronan O’Mahony taking his place on the wing.
Missed penalties from Keatley and his replacement JJ Hanrahan saw the crowd grow increasingly edgy and there was despair when Matavesi crossed in the right corner late on but the try was ruled out and Munster live to fight another day.
Final Score: Munster 21/18 Ospreys
munsterrugby
CJ Stander, Munster’s player of the season, put in another man of the match display in the semi-final against Ospreys. Come on Mr Meyer surely it’s not too late to give him a call for the Boks, one more game for Munster and their season is over so he will have good to rest before the Rugby Championship. Have read before Stander would probably get to play for Ireland BUT don’t think he will be able to do so until very late in the World Cup if Ireland get that far so who knows the lure of not having to wait 4 years to get to the World Cup (and even then having not guarantees on form and injuries) may persuade him to play for the Boks if they want him.
moes al 15-20 toetse vir die bokke gespeel het maaaaaaaar neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hy is mos te klein
@ Bullscot:
Unfortunately, CJ is one that slipped through our fingers.
I think his intention when moving to Munster was to qualify to play for Ireland.
The Bulls could really do with him now. It remains to be seen whether Heyneke has been keeping an eye on him. Or even spoken to him recently.
@ smallies:
Hi smallies at 1.88m may be a little ‘small’ to be a lineout option without good lifters, but 113kg is his weight listed on Munster’s site and that is a bit more than Francois Louw’s, in fact Louw is only 2cm taller – 1.90m, 109kg.
3 @ IAAS:
He was getting regular game time at the Bulls before he left so maybe his move was always about him emigrating BUT as I mentioned he would be very lucky to play for Ireland in this World Cup as he only signed for Munster in October (very small maybe if they have injuries and he is allowed as a late addition to the squad for late in the tournament) so this is something that should be worked on as a carrot – he can play World Cup this year if he gets selected for the Boks. In four years time he will be 29 and may or may not still be in such good form and who knows what could happen with injuries.
@ smallies:
@ IAAS:
CJ has been in super form for Munster and has played a lot of rugby this season: He is their player of the season and was named in the ‘PRO12 dream team’, scored 9 tries in 26 games played so far this season. He will need a bit of a break though as he has played a lot in spite of being out injured for a bit in January and February (he played on 17 Jan and then again from 21 Feb). In total he has played 1822 minutes so far if my calculations are correct and he must be really fit as he gets to play the full 80min many times – 18 out of his 26 matches and has played more than 75 min in 2, and more than 65 in another 2. He has started 25 out of the 26 games he has been involved in.
Very well disciplined player – has not had any cards this season, and only got 1 yellow card since he joined back in October 2012.
CJ only played 4 games in that first season having arrived a little bit after the start of it and I think that was the time he picked up an injury think it was broken hand.
CJ played 27 games in his second season at Munster (2013/14) starting 15 and coming off the bench in 12, so as time has gone he has become a more and more valuable player for them, an investment that has really worked out well for Munster.
@ Bullscot:
What of Scotland’s SA “imports” for the RWC?
Strauss; Nel? You think any of them will get a look in?
@ Bullscot:
Has Stander ever played a test?.. I can’t see him being on Meyer’s radar when the Bok has proven Test Rugby Loose forwards and some of the best in the world..I just can’t see Pro 12 experience being a proving ground for Bok selection if you have never played test rugby.
@ Te Rangatira:
I agree, if we select Stander (of who I am a big fan) who do we leave out? Marcel? Louw? Duane? Whitely? Alberts(when fit)? Lappies? Carr? Kolisi? JAco Kriel? Schalk?
There is going to be some seriously disappointed okes that wont be going to the world cup, whichever way you look at it.
@ MacroPolo:
stander moes al drie jaar terug gekies gewees het met hom en duanne as nr8 vir die wb,nou gaan ons met teachers pet spies opgeskeep siy
@ smallies:
Om eerlik te wees glo ek nie mens kan te krities wees oor spies die jaar nie.
Die ding is Stander was saamgenooi bokgroep toe, en hy wou nogsteeds loop, so dit is eerlikwaar als op hom, en ek sal bly van hom hou en nogsteeds baie respekteer oor sy besluit, maar hy moet dit maar voluit doen, as hy gebly het sou hy waarskynlik vir die boke gespeel het, dit was totaal en al sy eie besluit om te loop.
Inteendeel het die Bok bestuur span moer hard probeer om hom hier te hou.
8 @ Te Rangatira:
Hi Te Rangatira no CJ Stander has not played for the Boks senior team only U20s which is why he would be available to play for Ireland if he doesn’t play for the Boks. How much PRO12 do you get to watch? There are some teams who struggle and is quite a big difference between the top ones and the bottom ones but then that is the same with Super Rugby. I think the likes of Munster, Glasgow, Ospreys and Ulster would give the SA Super Rugby teams a good run for their money and there are some very good coaches in the PRO12. CJ has also been playing in the European Cup for Munster. Glasgow who will be in the PRO12 final were in the same European Cup pool as Bath who will be in the Premiership final this weekend. There was one win each:
Glasgow 37/10 Bath; Bath 20/15.
Almost all of the Irish team and most of Wales players play in the PRO12 and if memory serves me well both these teams beat the Boks recently. So I think it is good enough testing ground and when a player has been named Munster’s best player and the best in his position in the PRO12 this season then he is good enough to be a Bok. Not saying he should be a definite starter but certainly in the mix in the squad.
7 @ Scrumdown:
Hi Scrumdown, think they should both be there. WP Nel will be available for selection soon so could take part in Scotland’s warm up period before the World Cup. Euan Murray retiring from international rugby makes it even more likely for me.
Josh Strauss is only able to be picked quite close to the World Cup, I think after the warm up games so maybe this complicates things but think he is even more worthy of a call up for Scotland than WP. In a way it may work out better that he can’t play the warm up games as he has played so much rugby the last two seasons so can do with a bit more of a break before next season and the World Cup. Problem is these two were brought over as ‘project players’ when different coaches were in charge so I hope the current lot still back the decisions made back then and pick them. They have made some odd picks lately e.g. not picking John Barclay who has been in such good form for Llanelli Scarlets. This is the latest from them (Scarlets) on Barclay:
John Barclay regularly demonstrated his versatility for Scarlets this season and defence coach Byron Hayward admits having the Scot around makes his job a lot easier.
Traditionally an openside flanker, Barclay spent large parts of the campaign operating at No.8 as the Welsh outfit recorded a sixth-place finish in the GUINNESS PRO12.
He appeared in all but one of their league games, notching three tries along the way, earning the Scarlets’ Management Player of the Season award in the process.
The 28-year-old, who has won 43 caps for Scotland, also captained the side several times in the absence of Ken Owens and Scott Williams.
And Hayward concedes that it was an easy decision for himself and the region’s management to select Barclay as their player of the season.
“It was definitely a clear outcome who was the deserved winner of the award,” explained Hayward.
“John is a true professional and work-horse on the field but is also the utmost professional off the field.
“He is a huge benefit to the coaching staff for the work he puts in and his leadership qualities in and around the group.
“He has played out of position for most of the season and is still right up there with quality performances every game.”
So it just shows that nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to Scotland internationals.
12 @ MacroPolo:
Hi MacroBok ja the things you mention make thing as it did back then that it was always his intention to emigrate and this was a way to do it. However, when you look at how the move came about am not sure all the time that he always intended to try and be able to play for Ireland. He initially didn’t have a contract that was long enough to have him play for Ireland with the original one extended by 2 years and it now means if he stays he will be able if picked. Don’t know how they work out exactly when you are available for selection but sure it is 3 years and from what I read he arrived in Cork on 30 October 2012, 3 years after then is the day of the 3rd placed play off in the World Cup with the final the day after so if he really had this in his sights back then he would have tried to come over at least a few months earlier.
@ Bullscot:
Hi Bullscot…. I don’t watch Pro12 and I spose I am biased towards Super Rugby and Nz sides. I do believe however that a player who has never made the National team and never played Test Rugby, should prove themselves against the players who are also vying for a place in the National squad.
Perhaps I do need to change my opinion with regards Northern competitions as being inferior to the South and if Ireland get up to beat the Abs in the near future, that will definitely be a start.
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