Ex-Ireland international CJ Stander has revealed who he will be rooting for next weekend when Ireland, who he represented at senior international level, take on South Africa, his home country, in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup in France.
Stander who over the course of six seasons won fifty-one caps for Ireland, scoring sixty points, is arguably one of the greatest 'project players' ever brought in by the IRFU.
The 33-year-old who lined out with Munster for nine years played a pivotal role in some massive games for Ireland, including his famous try against the All Blacks in Chicago and also scoring at Twickenham on the day that Ireland won the Grand Slam in 2018.
However, he grew up in South Africa dreaming of representing them, captained the Springboks U20 team before he was told he was too small to make an impact and now lives there once again.
CJ Stander reveals who he wants to win next weekend
It would be easy to understand why his loyalties would be divided but he is certain who he wants to win the tie on Saturday at the Stade de France in Paris.
“I always tell people I can’t change where I was born but if Ireland play the Springboks, I’m an Irishman,” he told The Sunday Times.
“I get a lot of big glares when I say that to people here but I can take it.”
Stander will have significant knowledge of both camps next weekend and of course worked under South Africa's current Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus at Munster.
He feels he knows what Ireland have to do to take victory and believes Andy Farrell's men will not be daunted by the task at hand.
“They have no psychological issues with the Boks as they have beaten them before," he says.
"You just have to stop them dead on the gainline at that first collision. Otherwise they gain momentum. Force them to kick and you know you’ve made them think.”
Stander and Ireland will be hoping that plays out next week.
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