Monday 5 June 2017 10:48, UK
Ireland No 8 CJ Stander cannot wait to make his British and Irish Lions debut against the Blues on Wednesday.
Stander will start against the Super Rugby side at Eden Park in Auckland, looking to make a similar sort of impact as Taulupe Faletau did in the tour-opening 13-7 win over the Provincial Barbarians on Saturday.
The Wales star was one of few Lions to impress in Whangarei, with fans currently voting him their leading player from what was a nerve-wracking start to the tour.
Stander had a busy end to the season, being part of the Munster team beaten by Scarlets in the Guinness PRO12 final, and he only linked up with the Lions squad just before they left for New Zealand.
But the 27-year-old feels acclimatised and hopes to make an impact as the Lions face, at least on paper, a much tougher opponent than they did on Saturday.
"We've had a good few training (sessions) now and everyone is on the same page," Stander told Scott Quinnell on the Sky Sports Fan Van.
"We're working with a group of lads here that is the best of the best and we have to go out there and do our job. Everyone is looking forward to it and it was nice to see my name on the team-sheet.
"At Munster I got a few good starts in a row and at No 8 and there I feel like it's going to be my name read out, but now I am not sure, so it's good to get that nod. It's special and I just can't wait for the time to come on Wednesday.
"There will be a lot of intensity and physicality as well. They will come at us in the line-out and they have got a few good operators there. If we make a mistake they are going to punish us, but we are looking forward to it."
