'Lions Test 8 at the moment': Munster fans ecstatic with Stander's performance in all-time great European win
Johann Van Graan’s men became only the second side to earn a Heineken Champions Cup triumph at Stade Marcel Michelin to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Three turnovers from Irish loose forward CJ Stander helped Munster turn the tide and reverse a 19-point deficit as they downed Clermont 39-31. As the game neared the end, Stander was seen enjoying one of his turnovers smiling in the middle of the maul.
He scored a try in the win, which was described by fans as ‘right up there’ with historic wins of the past for the club.
? Man of the Match CJ Stander scored a try, made 9 tackles, won 3 turnovers & carried 10 times in Munster’s stunning 39-31 @ChampionsCup pool victory over Clermont Auvergne in France tonight. Impressive! #LLSport @Limerick_Leader #ASMvMUN #Munster ?
— Colm Kinsella (@ckSportLeader) December 19, 2020
Absolutely incredible stuff from Munster this evening. Josh Wycherley announcing himself at the top stage, CJ Stander playing like a maniac, JJ Hanrahan nailing it when he really needed to. Right up there with the miracle match of 03, Sale in 06 and Northampton in 2011.
— Neil Treacy (@neil_treacy) December 19, 2020
In my sleep tonight I will see CJ Stander smiling while holding up that maul. It will be my favourite dream ever
— Eddie Barron (@EddieBarron) December 19, 2020
My Picture of the night ?
#ASMvMUN #SUAF @CJStander pic.twitter.com/q3RvEKBZC9
— Daithi O’S (@hakaman) December 19, 2020
Lions Test 8 at the moment
— Gman66 (@Gmanbfc66) December 19, 2020
Super performance by CJ and team and sound of CJ to mention the 50 strong Munster squad
— Jason Flannery (@JasonFlannery9) December 19, 2020
Lucky to have him, players like him make Munster great in all codes, choke tackle was immense.
— Aine Cahill (@ABC78) December 19, 2020
How could you not ?? @CJStander!! What a match. What a win @Munsterrugby!! Ending 2020 on a high ?? #SUAF #ASMvMUN #HeinekenChampionsCup https://t.co/gwIsfsW2uE
— Dr Lisa Ryan (@LisRyan_Nutri) December 19, 2020
What a performance by @CJStander today. What a #rugbyrockstar #suaf
— Peter Hatton (@hatton_peter) December 19, 2020
CJ Stander. Holy mother of God. #SUAF
— Niamh ?? (@NiamhoNiamh) December 19, 2020
CJ Stander was award the Man of the Match for his starring role in the victory and was overcome with emotion in his post-match speech.
“That first quarter was very, very difficult, their try was probably the quickest one in the competition this year anyway. They put us under massive pressure, to comeback from that is massive for this team.
“These guys train hard, there’s two guys with new caps, it’s unbelievable. I can’t wait to get back into that changing room and just thank them. The lads put their hands up to come back from that first quarter.
Stander said the belief did not waiver at halftime and credited the entire squad in their preparation for lifting the side to the win.
“We said to ourselves at halftime, when we get out there, score more points and that’s what we did. That was a full 50-man squad from the whole week’s training to put us through this.”
Coach Van Graan mirrored Stander’s view, and credited the team’s off-season work to get them into a position to come away with a win like this in Europe.
“We definitely thought we could win, we came here to win, we didn’t come here to get a bonus point and the message at half-time was that ‘if we believe in our plan and stick to the process we will win this game’,” he said.
“I asked the 23 guys to stick to what we do, we spoke a lot in the week and credit to the players because they believed until the final second of this game.
“What we have done over the last six or seven months and all the work we’ve put in over lockdown, all the fitness we have done and small tweaks to our plan gave us belief.
Comments on RugbyPass
As a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
5 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
1 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
5 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
5 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
3 Go to comments