Munster's CJ Stander is relishing the opportunity to pull on the Lions jersey for the first time after arriving into the squad late.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "When you arrive into a team, a group, you know especially late when everyone has already bonded and made a few groups together you come in and you feel like an outsider.
"We just got straight into training and we didn't have a lot of time. We were there Sunday and then boom, onto the plane on Monday.
"Everyone made it easy. Travelling over here together was easier to get over the flight. Settling in well, over the jet lag now, it took me about two/three days," he added.
"Everyone is excited to play and we all want to make sure we do the red jersey proud." - @CJStander #LionsNZ2017 #BLUvBIL pic.twitter.com/VyNVXXSKbI
— British&Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 5, 2017
He's looking forward to another stern workout from their Super 15 opposition on Wednesday, and is expecting "a lot of intensity and a lot of physicality also. They're going to come at us at line-out time. Defence-wise, they've got a good few operators and I think if we make a mistake they're going to punish us. We're looking forward to it"
"Defence-wise, they've got a good few operators and I think if we make a mistake they're going to punish us. We're looking forward to it."
Stander described waiting to hear if he was going to be named in the team as 'being like a kid again'.
"I couldn't wait to tell my wife and my mum and dad," he said, adding: "It's special for them also. They're going to come over. It's special. I just want the time to pass and get out on the pitch."
