Jacob Stockdale burst onto the scene in 2018, taking the Six Nations by storm with his electric attack, topping off his Grand Slam glory by claiming the Player of the Tournament award thanks to his seven tries across the five games.
While in the aftermath of his fantastic performance, Stockdale's career plateaued, the Ulster winger's renewed form under Richie Murphy this season has him back in contention for a place in Andy Farrell's team.
Stockdale's newfound form comes as Ulster continue their strong start to the season, recording their third win of the league with a 36-12 bonus point hammering of the Ospreys in Belfast on Friday evening.
On a night where Ulster went over the whitewash five times, man-of-the-match Stockdale shone. Not just with the two tries he bagged for himself, but also with his clinical attacking play that saw him make no fewer than four clean breaks gaining 122 metres, and his 100% tackle success rate.
JACOB STOCKDALE 👏pic.twitter.com/gwRRfmaqV1
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) October 18, 2024
While the official record might only show two tries for Jacob Stockdale, the winger went over the line a third time for a sensational try that was later revoked by the TMO for a forward pass in the build-up.
Jacob Stockdale's impressive performance on Friday night means the Ulster man is now the league leader in both metres made and carries.
How good would this have been... 🤯
A breathtaking Jacob Stockdale try denied by a forward pass 🙅♂️#BKTURC #URC | #ULSvOSP pic.twitter.com/2lPInwABju— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 18, 2024
Jacob Stockdale launches into contention for Ireland starting spot.
Despite his disappointment that the TMO denied him a career-first hattrick, an upbeat Stockdale revealed that he was in a very different position to when he took Irish rugby by storm in 2018.
I suppose everyone regards my best form as 2018, but that was six years ago now, I'm a very different player to the player I was back then. I've different strengths and different weaknesses. About a year ago I decided to focus on stuff I was good at and really go after that. I'd got away from that, I think.
Obviously, you still have to train the stuff you're not great at so they're not weaknesses, but focusing on the things that might stand me apart from another winger is something I've been going after and I think it's paid dividends for me.
Even with his current form, upending Leinster star James Lowe from his usual spot on the left wing will be a tall task, however, Stockdale feels he's doing everything he can to earn himself the opportunity.
Whether I play or not - obviously I want to, don’t get me wrong - but it doesn’t really matter to a certain degree as I’m doing what I can out on the pitch at the moment.
I feel like I’m doing everything I can to warrant getting an opportunity. If it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come, but I’m feeling good.
With Andy Farrell expected to announce his Irish squad for the upcoming November internationals in the coming days, Jacob Stockdale looks to be all but set to be part of the squad that'll welcome New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia to the Aviva Stadium.
The big question that still remains is whether Stockdale's superior start to the season will be enough to see him given a starting opportunity as Ireland's adversaries try to knock them off the number-one spot in the world rankings.
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