Stander: I'm part of this Ireland team

CJ Stander is expecting a tough test for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday - and insists he owes everything to Munster and the IRFU.

The South African-born player has been in the spotlight recently as the three-year residency rule which he and Jared Payne are both eligible to play for Ireland under, has come in for criticism.

The back row insists there is nothing he can do about this rule but there is plenty he hopes to do about a resurgent Scotland this weekend.

“They’ve [Scotland] come a long way, if you look at the Autumn series, they almost beat Australia and they beat Argentina," he told RTE Sport.

"They’re a team that’s worked on their game plan. The forwards are physical, they try to outnumber packs and give the ball to their superstar backs and then you have your job cut out for you.

"I think it’s going to be intense, it’s a physical pack and we know what’s going to happen on Saturday.

"It’s going to be a close game, a tight game and as I said if they get the ball to the backs you’re going to be in trouble.

"So we’re going to have to work on that and really get into them because they’re going to get into us for sure."

“I think that’s [the three-year residency rule criticism] going to be with me all my career," he continued. "I can’t really change what got me here or what I’m doing at the moment.

“From my side I can just stick to the rules and do what I do week in and week out.

“Critics are going to be critics and they’re always going to be there, someone has to do their job and write about something, so they write about that.

“It’s a hot topic at the moment but for me personally, I owe everything to Munster and the way they treated me and made me into the player I am today and through that, the IRFU.

“I feel that I’m a part of this Ireland team and as long as I feel I can give something to this team then I’m happy with it.”

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