CJ Stander was very much a warrior on the pitch, so we shouldn’t really be surprised by the players he picks out as his toughest Welsh opponents.
He goes for two men cut from the same cloth: Alun Wyn Jones and Ross Moriarty. Stander came up against the pair of them a number of times during a nine-year stay in Ireland which brought him 51 caps for his adopted country and more than 150 appearances for his beloved Munster.
He is now back in the land of his birth, South Africa, having retired from playing at the end of last season. Speaking at a United Rugby Championship media event, he gave his thoughts on Jones and Moriarty.
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“Alun Wyn always had this thing where he goes on to the pitch, almost like a robot, he is there to do the game," said the 32-year-old former No 8. "He was a machine. He just had a job to do and while he was doing it, he was getting under your skin.
“Those were the things I used to enjoy in a game when a guy got a big hit on me or smacked me or stole a ball from me at the breakdown or from a lineout. It’s those small battles I used to like to win and if I didn’t win them I used to say to the guys ‘well done, that is actually impressive’.
"When I was playing against Alun Wyn, he always made sure he got those battles won. He played very well and very hard and was a difficult opponent.
“Then you’ve got a guy like Ross Moriarty. When I played against him, he never let up. He was always in your face. He played hard. Those were the tough competitors from Wales I used to struggle against, the guys like Ken Owens, Alun Wyn and Moriarty."
Stander, who now works in construction and farming, has also been giving his verdict on Wales’ summer tour of South Africa, which will feature three Tests against the world champion Springboks.
“I am going to one of the games and I am looking forward to that," he said. "I think it’s going to be a tough tour for Wales. They have got a lot of injuries and the squad is rotating a lot.
“But one thing I have learned playing against Wales is when the injured dog is wounded, that’s when they get up. I think the first Test will probably be a win for the Springboks, but you can’t write off Wales even with the injuries.
"They still have unbelievable players. I am excited to go and watch a Test match, so you need to tell them to come with their best game!”
