Ireland forward CJ Stander has emphasised the need to keep rugby clean amidst ongoing doping issues in his native South Africa.
The Munster man acknowledges that banned substances were likely available for those who sought them out in South Africa, however, he believes that it is not a concern in Irish rugby.
"When I was younger, I was out in the sticks so the only thing that I knew was farming, I never really came across it," said Stander, speaking at a press conference ahead of Ireland's World Cup opener on Sunday.
"It’s something that, if you want to go look for it and you want to do it, it’s probably (there).
"I don’t think it’s a great thing to do at all. It’s a great sport and we need to keep it clean.
"In Ireland anyway, they look after all those things and make sure everyone is on track, so again I think it’s something we need to get out of the sport.
"If you want to go down that path, I don’t stand for it at all. I think it is the wrong thing to do and it’s influence from the outside, maybe."
Stander is expected to start the Yokohama opener against Scotland on Sunday and while he expressed a preference to playing the number eight position, the 29-year-old is equally content to line out as a flanker.
"My preference is at eight, but I will play wherever I get selected," said Stander who spoke about the importance of training in relation to Joe Schmidt’s team selection.
"We know we need to make sure to push each other in training, so we have trained well together.
"We need to train well again now to get into that jersey, to push each other and push the team.
"We’ve got to make sure the team is ready to go and you’re set into that groove with the rest of the back row, if you’re selected."
Stander also spoke about the relaxed atmosphere in the Ireland camp, revealing that he went to an arcade to play coin games, while others enjoyed a night out at the sumo wrestling.
"It’s been great. We've trained three days, in hot weather and wet weather. In between that we had a few off days.
"A few lads went to Tokyo, a few lads went to watch the sumo wrestling. I went to the arcade. You know the tipping point where you put the coins in?
"In Ireland you only put one coin in and it drops down to the bottom. Here you can put 15 coins in and they all come down. Jean Kleyn, who was next to me, actually got the jackpot.
"I think we threw in a thousand coins and got 500 out – it’s a loss, but it’s a great day."
And the new father, whose wife gave birth to a baby girl in August, added that he is able to keep updated with his young family through video calling once training had finished for the day.
"I miss them a lot but after training I get to Skype them all afternoon and we try to do it everyday, so it is good to see her grow.
"I don’t think she is missing me that much, she is only missing her milk and sleep time. When I get back, my wife will be a lot happier, I think."
