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'Shocked. Didn't see it coming': How Ireland skipper Sexton reacted when told CJ Stander is quitting

(Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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.

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CJ Stander guests on RugbyPass Offload

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CJ Stander guests on RugbyPass Offload

“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.

“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.”

 

 

 

 

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J
JPM 51 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!


Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...


Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.


Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.


Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.


So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.


And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).


In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.


If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.

92 Go to comments
K
KB 53 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Consistency hasnt been there they have many great players SA were also not unbeaten in the 2023 WC - NZ were in 2015 WC McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith - SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - I wouldnt rank them ahead of the 20I5 ABs - They clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - Furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point there were many contentious decisions that went their way that it became obvious it wasnt coincidence - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics

Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved - they know who they are - its called Freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - Lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 RWC final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus


William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus


It starts


Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with


I am the CAPTAIN of my soul


SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final

11 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

92 Go to comments
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