‘You’d swear CJ grew up in Moyross, with me now. He’s a pure Munster man’ – Keith Earls

Keith Earls was in top form ahead of Munster's sell-out game against Leinster at Thomond Park.

The Munster winger had a grandstand views of his side's Champions Cup heroics against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, on Sunday. It's not the way he would have wanted - he was an unused sub - but the result and performance filled him with immense pride. At this afternoon's press briefing at University of Limerick, Earls said the result had a cup-winning feel to it, or the closest feeling to it without winning itself. For a team that has had nothing but moments over the past 18 months, this felt like a MOMENT. Earls is hoping to be involved from the start against Leinster and to put himself right back in the picture for the big Champions Cup games coming up, not to mention the Six Nations. Having been the young pup in Munster for so many years, Earls, Tommy O'Donnell, Dave Kilcoyne, Conor Murray and a few others are the new leaders in the squad. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/943811385137467392 Peter O'Mahony and CJ Stander, who have shared the captaincy over the past three years, are the quintessential leaders in the Munster squad. For that reason, and their undoubted talent and commitment, Earls is chuffed that both men have committed to the province for at least three more seasons.

"I just got a text as I was coming in there. No, it's brilliant news, himself and Pete [signing up] now this week. It's a great Christmas present for all of us. "CJ has been massive since he came over. He struggled at the start as he came over on his own but then his wife, Jean-Marie, came over. They found it hard to settle in, at the start, in that first year. "But you'd swear he grew up in Moyross, with me, now. He's a pure Munster man."

As Stander demonstrated, with a heartfelt statement about Munster and Ireland, when his contract extension was confirmed, Earls is onto something. Sure he's even a fan of Tipperary, and Waterford hurling supporters. CJ knows.