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Stander back for Munster's Champions Cup semi, O'Brien misses out for Leinster
By Tom Webber
Munster have received a boost ahead of their European Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens with the return of CJ Stander, but Sean O'Brien will miss Leinster's clash versus Clermont Auvergne.
Stander sustained an ankle injury in his side's quarter-final victory over Toulouse and missed subsequent Pro12 triumphs against Glasgow Warriors and Ulster.
However, the Ireland international - named in Warren Gatland's 41-man British and Irish Lions squad on Wednesday - is in the starting XV to face Saracens at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The match comes too soon for fellow Lions pick Conor Murray, however. The scrum-half has been absent with a shoulder issue since March and Gatland suggested Murray could lose his place on the tour to New Zealand if he does not return before the end of the season.
Munster's semi final team named for #MUNvSAR 5 changes with @CJStander back from injury #RedWave https://t.co/G4gbrIQUez pic.twitter.com/98k9rxvutk
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 21, 2017
Saracens' starting XV features all six of their Lions representatives: Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and George Kruis.
Leinster have suffered a blow ahead of their semi-final against Clermont, with O'Brien ruled out due to hamstring tightness. The Lions back-rower will be reassessed before next Friday's Pro12 clash with Glasgow Warriors.
David Strettle replaces Noa Nakaitaci (ruptured anterior cruciate ligament) in the only change to Clermont's quarter-final line-up, after Davit Zirakashvili, Benjamin Kayser and Sebastien Vahaamahina were all passed fit.
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I’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
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