CJ Stander could not have been more honest nor more humble. He has found the responsibility of leading a team such as Munster, with their rich heritage and strong lineage of captains, both an honour and a struggle.
Being chosen as the man to skipper the South African Under-20s at a Junior World Championships is no throwaway line on Stander’s CV either, but while the outside world sees a leader, the man himself felt like a novice when he had to step up in place of Peter O’Mahony.
Stander, the man from Pretoria who now calls Limerick his home and Ireland his country, was handed the job after O’Mahony, the club captain, tore knee ligaments during the World Cup. However, it was a battlefield promotion that occurred in the midst of a leadership vacuum after the retirement of Paul O’Connell. The Ireland back row can make ball carrying look like child’s play, but carrying a team short on experience is a different beast.
“In the beginning I wasn’t really sure,” he said. “I knew what was expected of me and I could just ask questions, ‘what do I need to do there?’ There was a lot to it. I have to juggle talking to the players and also looking after myself.
“I have to train full on, and play full on, to keep my place in the team. I can’t just go ‘I’m captain, I’m starting every week’. So there’s a lot of stuff on your plate, but in fairness to everyone else they’ve made it easier for me. It was difficult at the beginning but I got used to it. Get thrown in on the deep side, so swim.”
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The province’s season is now stretching into week 45 if you count back to the beginning of pre-season in late June and Stander is still showing up well on the field after 20 games for Munster and five for Ireland.
The 26-year-old has played over 1,800 minutes of rugby – a lot of mileage for any frontline Irish international not named Jamie Heaslip.
However, it’s been an emotionally draining season for everyone at Munster, which all boils down to this weekend’s game against Scarlets at Thomond Park. Stander, however, has remained upbeat.
After arriving with less than fluent English in 2012, Stander can mix it with the natives now but there’s still an extra degree of effort required when it comes to dressing-room speeches.
“You want to motivate everybody but also you don’t want to overcharge them too much, let them run out and knock the head off someone,” Stander said.
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“You need to think about it, especially for me, coming from my background. This year it’s changed but I usually think in Afrikaans before speaking English, but now, luckily, I think in English. I’m turning into an English-speaking person now.
“I try to read books, try to get some stuff during the week into myself, and then, when we’re going into the game, I try to give small, accurate messages before we go out onto the pitch to play the game.”
“It was difficult at the beginning but I got used to it. Get thrown in on the deep side, so swim
No player has all the answers, however, and Stander even admits that he doesn’t always have the exact word or phrase he’s searching for. As he explains the impression and lessons taught to him by the actions and behaviour of O’Connell, the former Munster and Ireland captain, a reporter offers up the term “conduct” which Stander pounces on.
“That’s a great word, I’m going to use that next time. Just the way Paul conducted himself because you need to lead by all examples. You need to be the guy that sticks your head in somewhere or get onto the ball or be aggressive, but then also turn around and tell the ref there’s something going on,” Stander said.
Regardless of the result on Saturday, Munster’s season will end. With O’Mahony due back next season it’s possible that Stander will lead out the team for the last time against Scarlets.
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“I’m emotional enough, so I’ll just do the same thing. You can’t take it on yourself to do something different. We know what we want to do this week, so taking the spotlight onto me, because it’s maybe my last game as captain, is not fair to the team,” Stander said.