Munster snatch Bok prospect
20 Jun 2012
Irish side Munster have secured the services of highly rated Bulls loose forward CJ Stander.
Stander, whom Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has a high regard for, will leave the union after the Currie Cup. The move comes as a surprise and is a massive blow for the Bulls, for whom the 22-year-old has been involved in all 13 Super Rugby matches.
On the departure of the former Baby Boks captain, Bulls CEO Barend van Graan said: ‘We identified CJ at schoolboy level already and he was part of our future planning at the Bulls. However we couldn’t match the Munster offer – such is the reality of professional sport.’
Bulls coach, Frans Ludeke, wished Stander well in his decision. ‘Quality players like CJ, who have also shown tremendous leadership abilities, don’t come around very often and so it was not a surprise to hear about his overseas offer.
‘We would have loved to have had him with us well into the future, but it makes financial sense for CJ to accept the Munster offer. I have no doubt that CJ will continue to give everything he has throughout the remainder of our Super Rugby campaign as well as our Currie Cup season.’
165 Comments
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21 Jun 2012, 12:47 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-146:
That’s SAIL, not Saracens.
21 Jun 2012, 12:52 pm
@Captain Sam Vimes(Captain Sam Vimes)-129: These references to snatch and braziians have got my Internet filter smoking.
21 Jun 2012, 13:08 pm
Good Luck CJ! I rated you highly. Many players get disillusioned when they and many others feel they are better than those who the coach selects, but as Tac says the coach makes that decision and we and you will have to live it. You will gain great experience at Munster.
21 Jun 2012, 13:08 pm
What a shame. Big loss for the Bulls and Boks…was my favourite young loosie in the country.
Anyway, I’m sure the guy has no ambitions of playing for Ireland, after captaining SA Schools and SA u20 teams…he’s a Saffa through and through. I’m glad he chose to go to Munster..such a tradional powerhouse rugby club in Europe.
He will learn alot from playing along side guys like
Paul O’Connel and playing in the Heineken Cup. And maybe he will settle into one position there and come back better than ever, maybe he was inspired by Juandre Kruger. Apparently he has been having discussions with Ludeke and Meyer recently and that could mean he is still going to be a part of South African rugby. And after two year he’ll be only 24…just before the peaking age. Well the Bulls loose forward cover is pretty much good, there’s guys like Spies, Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Arno Botha, and the two u20 stars Wian Liebenberg and Shaun Adendorff…still looking better than other unions.
On a side note, I just heard reports that Wynand Olivier and Ryan Kankowski are off to Japan at the end of the current super rugby season. I’m sure these news will make alot of people here super delighted. LOL! Seems like Jan Serfontein will make his mark in super rugby next year…looking forward to seeing him in the Currie Cup this year. Bulls’
inside centres :
Francois Venter and Jan Serfontein.
Outside centres: Johan Sadie, William Small-Smith
and maybe JJ Engelbreght.
Good luck CJ, although I find your decision baffling. You get your break and got selected for all the S15 games. You got invited to link up with the Springbok squad which surely suggests that you’re being earmarked as a potential future Bok. All at the tender age of 22, and the future looks bright. But you’d rather “further” your career on the mud island?
21 Jun 2012, 13:23 pm
@storiejoernal(storiejoernal)-154:
Have you ever been to Ireland? It’s a magical and beautiful place, despite the weather.
21 Jun 2012, 13:30 pm
@storiejoernal(storiejoernal)-154:
This is what I am thinking. What is worth more to South Africa; him sitting on the bench at the Bulls or getting proper play time for 2 years in the NH? Unless he was very underhanded with this and Meyer had no idea this was happening why else would he be selected for the training squad?
21 Jun 2012, 13:34 pm
@Too drunk to taste this chicken.(Kid_Senekal)-145:
hehehe
well, she didn’t like it when i came in from behind but somehow still played the ball in an offside position
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-146:
hehe
all good larfs hey
21 Jun 2012, 13:39 pm
@STBUR(STBUR)-156: Is CJ even “big enough” for HM’s standards?
Didn’t look like it on TV.
On the other hand, can we believe anything HM says these days, since his latest selections are kind of against his original philosophy (not that I’m complaining)
21 Jun 2012, 13:51 pm
@David(David)-155:
Lived there for several years, Dublin was fun, it is now a dull cosmopolitan mess. Found the Irish incredibly arrogant, especially those with money. The poor are just proper drunk trash and there is no middle class.
It`s like living in a shower anyhow, they can all piss off the feeble minded eedtjits.
21 Jun 2012, 14:43 pm
@David(David)-151: Yeah, but SAIL own a massive whack in Sarries don’t they? I would just have thought there would be more ‘dovetailing’ between the SAIL ‘clubs/unions’?
21 Jun 2012, 16:46 pm
Storiejoernal 154
Great post.
Lots of talent coming thru still at Bulls in loosies-CJ most likely was going to play off bench with all fit.but I agree still baffling,as I’m sure while money is good it isn’t Japan or French Top 14 crazy money.Munster got pretty good squad themselves,would be dissapointing if CJ sits on bench for most of time there like Mostert @ Stade Francais.Bad career move.
Wynand Olivier on the other hand while a great servant for Bulls,his time has come to let likes of Venter,Serfontein take over.Add JJ & Sadie-Bulls well stockd with useful youth talent.
Plus nationwide loose fwd talent aint short at all with Coetzee,Kolisi,Carr,Lappies Labuschagne,Piet Steph du Toit etc in fray or soon to be stars.
21 Jun 2012, 17:16 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-158:
No, that is just your predisposition against Afrikaans speakers as has been established.
21 Jun 2012, 18:58 pm
What a stupid move Mr Stander. You have the world at your feet at the moment. In my eyes a potential future Bulls captain and Bok captain. Now you want to go to Ireland at such a young age? Obviously money was the only consideration and it was irresistable – so good luck. Hopefully we’ll see you again at the Bulls soon.
Just as a matter of fact – anyone that tells you Ireland is a special place, is a liar. You’ll soon find out it is a miserable,dark,wet place with loads of unfriendly people. Only tourists like Ireland – because they don’t have to live there. When things start to get bumpy (like sitting on a wet bench), you won’t have family and friends close to you. Pretoria is going to feel very far away.
If you want to play for Ireland, please p*** off!
22 Jun 2012, 10:02 am
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-158:
too much buggery.
22 Jun 2012, 10:26 am
Hope to see him back in blue soon. Juandre Kruger did the same and came back a better player. Good luck CJ! Big loss for SA short term, but might just be what he needs to round his skills.
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