Stander is 'pure Irish'
Stander, better know by his initials CJ, left South Africa in 2012 and joined Irish province Munster as a 'project' player – meaning he will qualify for his adopted country under the residency rule.
That 'project' was completed in November last year when when the South Africa native finally qualified to play for Ireland, with coach Joe Schmidt wasting no time to call him up at the first available opportunity.
It was a 24-hour camp at Carton House at the start of a vital week for Munster, but 25-year-old Stander was thrilled to get the opportunity.
"It was good, it was good to get in the group and I was very excited going up there," Stander said in an interview on the Irish website The42.
"It's something I worked for and work towards.
"It was good to get up there and meet all the players and coaches in a different environment.
"I've got the foot in there, but I'm not in the group yet. I have to work hard in the next few matches to get in there."
Stander, who a couple of years ago said that if he gets the chance to play for Ireland he'll sing the anthem with all his heart, said he is passionate about playing for his adopted country.
"I'm a passionate guy, so I have passion in everything I do," Stander told The42.
"I love playing rugby in the first place and I try to be the best I can be in that jersey.
"The Irish jersey is something I'm very passionate about, also the Munster jersey.
"If I get that chance, I'm going to represent it as best I can. If I don't get into groups, I know I'm going to need to work for it.
"That's a good drive to have I reckon."
Ireland name their Six Nations squad later this month,
Having been limited only to extremely brief words with Schmidt following Munster games in the recent past, Stander also had an opportunity for a slightly more detailed briefing from the Ireland head coach.
"We had a quick chat about what I need to fix and what I need to do," said Stander.
"It was good to get that feedback because it's the same feedback I get from Axel and them [the Munster coaches].
"There's a similarity and it's something I need to work on. I know what I need to fix."
Source: The42
