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'Shocked. Didn't see it coming': How Ireland skipper Sexton reacted when told CJ Stander is quitting
Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton has admitted he was left stunned on Monday when he was called into a meeting with Andy Farrell and learned about the shock decision by CJ Stander to retire from playing at the end of the season just months after his 31st birthday in early April.
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South African Stander made the 50th Ireland appearance for his adopted country in last Sunday’s win over Scotland and was expected to come to a central contract extension with the IRFU. However, having become a new father in the past year, he has decided to walk away from rugby and instead head home to South Africa where his family are in the farming business.
“Shocked. Didn’t see it coming,” said Sexton when asked for his reaction to the Tuesday morning announcement that this coming Saturday’s game versus England will be the last time Stander will play for Ireland.
“They called me into a meeting yesterday morning, him, Andy. It was the last thing I thought I was getting called in for. Literally, if you gave me a thousand things to guess, it wouldn’t have even registered on it.
“But he has done things for the right reason. His wife and daughter are back in South Africa at the moment. They have been there for a few months and they went back for the last lockdown as well.
Surprise news about the No8 just days after his 50th Ireland appearance#SixNations https://t.co/AVq1w6jFnI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 16, 2021
“It takes its toll and he has just taken the decision based on family reasons and we respect him for that but he is a big loss to Munster and Irish rugby. He has been huge for both teams over the last five, six years. Yeah, very shocked but we wish him well and we hope that his last game in green will be one to remember.”
While the 2021 Guinness Six Nations finale versus England will be Stander’s final Ireland cap, he will hope to bow out with provincial honours in the weeks ahead as Munster face Leinster in the PRO14 final on March 27 before hosting Toulouse the following weekend in the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16.
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He will then hope – selection and scheduling permitting – that the curtain falls on his career with Lions tour selection versus the Springboks having been involved in the previous series versus the All Blacks in 2017.
“He is a great person first and foremost,” continued Sexton. “You can’t be a great teammate without being a good lad, very popular in the group. And then just his work ethic. I can’t ever remember him missing a game. Maybe through suspension after his red card against South Africa (in 2016) but in terms of being injured, I can’t remember him missing a game.
“Just relentless attitude, his preparation, how tough he was. I played against him numerous times, I have been on the receiving end of a few carries and he has got the utmost respect of anyone who has played with or against him.
“Ultimately when you finish up that is what you want really. As a player, you want to win things but the older you get the more you realise you just want your own teammates to respect you and then for the opposition to think he is a good player. I am pretty sure he has achieved that.”
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Asked about the early-week timing of the Stander revelation, Sexton said: “In fairness to CJ that is why he wanted to announce it early. He wanted to get it out of the way because he is a team guy and he wanted then to just concentrate on his performance.
“But at the same time, he wanted to do it the right way and announce it before his last game rather than just walking away. That was the right thing to do. Like I said, he will be a big loss. He has contributed so much over the number of years he has been here and we wish him well. It’s for the right reasons.”
Former Ireland international Mike Ross thinks Tadhg Furlong's extended lay-off 'did him a favour' https://t.co/d3sUvBjoDQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 16, 2021
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Hey. Stay home and play for Mooloo.
1 Go to commentsTighthead was always going to be our weakness this year with Ryan going home to Ireland and the Cashed Up Blues taking a third All Black prop from us - nobody else in SR does that. Numia is the exciting one. He used to be a lightweight but he's really improved. Do you have stats on the All Black hookers’ lineouts for the game? I seem to remember a few misses.
2 Go to commentsFergus Burke isn't tier 1 player quality…but guess what, he'll be playing amongst them for Saracens…. all going well and Steve Borthwick is still the head coach, England...Scott Robertson’s hint of amending NZRU’s offshore AB eligibility clause, would mean that players like Josh Moorby who show potential might get a call…
4 Go to commentsThe movement of quality players back to SA is remarkable.
2 Go to commentsInteresting article, Nic. Am enjoying seeing the Rebels doing well, partly just to spite those who are working to wipe them off the face of the Australian rugby planet. But it is also good to see a team with somany good players beginning fire. LSL has benefitted so much from his move up to Northampton for the one year. I wonder why he did not stay on for another year. Does he now looks north and see his teammates of last year now doing so well, and have some regrets.
44 Go to comments“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
2 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
2 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
44 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
44 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
4 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
8 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
44 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
8 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
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