Ireland head coach Andy Farrell believes his side’s 32-18 victory over England was the perfect send off to the outgoing CJ Stander, as the back-rowerr brings down the curtain on his international career.
The Munster man played his final Guinness Six Nations game making his 51st appearance for Ireland in the win in Dublin, ahead of returning to South Africa this summer.
Tries from Keith Earls and Jack Conan sealed the deal for the hosts at the Aviva Stadium, while 22 points from the boot of captain Johnny Sexton helped to keep the advantage intact.
And after ending the 2021 Guinness Six Nations on a high, Farrell was left to sing the praises of the trusty back-rower, who helped Ireland to Grand Slam victory in 2018.
“I’ve just said to him in the dressing room there that he can be as emotional as he wants to be now because he’s given his heart and soul to the jersey,” Farrell said.
“He has kept a smile on his face has been totally fitting to what this team is about, and we’re delighted that we’re able to put in a performance together for CJ to send him off in the right way.
“We’re delighted that we’re able to control the emotion in the right way and he’s emotional in the changing rooms, but a happy emotional.
“I can’t say enough about him as a bloke he’s the most kind-hearted and genuine bloke that you’ll ever meet.”
After Owen Farrell gave the visitors an early lead from the kicking tee, Ireland took the game to their opponents with Sexton returning the favour with three points of their own, before Earls scampered over for the first try of the game from a neat set-piece move.
Sexton continued to capitalise on England’s ill-discipline by adding points with the boot, before Conan’s quick-thinking extended the advantage to 20-6 at the interval.
Not even a red card for Bundee Aki on the hour mark could dampen the Irish spirits, with Sexton keeping the score ticking over, before Ben Youngs and Jonny May scored late consolations as the reigning champions relinquished their title with defeat.
And captain Sexton was delighted that his side could end the Championship with a victory, after a number of ups and downs throughout their five matches this year.
“It was brilliant, it was the performance – apart from the first ten minutes – it was the performance that we wanted to produce against one of the real top sides,” the Irish skipper said.
“We felt we weren’t too far away, and we felt it all came together today in parts, but there’s still parts we can get better at, and we need to keep getting better that’s the key now.
“We saw some good stuff today but there’s still stuff that we can get better at, and we set a standard in some areas today that we need to keep for next November or the summer tour, and then into next year’s Six Nations.”
