YOUR FAVOURITE JACOB Stockdale try probably involves a chip over the top, a show of pace and strength to muscle ahead of opponents to reach the loose ball and score.
But the prolific Ulster wing has made the intercept try every bit as much a trademark in his highlight-reel.
Of his seven tries in last year’s Grand Slam run, three came directly from the pass of an opponent, including one from Scotland’s Peter Horne.
The combination of Ireland’s defensive line-speed, Stockdale’s instinct and powerful long strides to spring him out of the blocks help him continually get into a position to put a hand on any loose pass hung up ahead of him.
With Finn Russell the opposition 10 on Saturday, the odds of seeing such a ball increase. The Racing 92 playmaker often takes a thrilling and cavalier attitude in attack, with passes designed to skip or lure defenders out.
However, just as Joe Schmidt stressed the need to not chase the Championship, the Ireland wing is acutely aware of the danger of shooting out of Andy Farrell’s defensive structure without hitting the mark.
“Once you start going looking for intercepts it can be a pretty dangerous game, because Finn Russell is a very smart player, he’s very intuitive,” said Stockdale after today’s team announcement in Maynooth.
He’s definitely the kind of player that if he sees you going for it, he’ll let you think you’re going to have it, and then he’ll put the ball past you, or in behind you.
“You just can’t go chasing intercepts, and you just have to, hopefully, grab the one that becomes available throughout the game. For me it’s just about making sure that I defend well, connect with the backline and the forwards around me. And then if the opportunity arises then I definitely plan on taking it.”
“Every time you play, you want to put the opposition number 10 under as much pressure as possible. If you let Finn Russell control the game, he is one of the most dangerous players in the world. He’s a class player.”
Stockdale doesn’t need prompting to bring up his stand-out error from the loss to England, when a crunching hit from Jack Nowell prompted him to spill the ball behind his try-line and in front of a grateful Elliot Daly, but the 22-year-old is intent on taking on every lesson possible from the experience.
After all, with 15 caps to his name (and 12 tries) England was just the second time Stockdale sampled the taste of defeat at international level.
You learn probably more from losing than you do winning. For me personally that’s a massive point: I don’t want that to ever happen again. So I’m going to work twice as hard to make sure it doesn’t.
“So there’s a lot to learn from last week and a lot to be excited about going forward.”
He adds: “We know we’re not the finished product, and I don’t think anybody here has ever claimed us to be.
“So we’re still trying to work and still trying to improve.”
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He should be rediscovering his form & fitness with Munster not with the national team. Shouldn’t be a separate rule for him no matter how good he is at his best. Just lowers squad standards….
@ℝ: Who should be in the squad ahead of him, do you think? Marmion is barely back from injury and McGrath is still out for a few more weeks.
@Conor Matthews: Cooney and Blade, the two form Irish scrumhalves by a country mile… and especially for the Italy game. The pace the pair play is perfect for an ireland game to run Italy ragged, and test their fringe defences as unlike Murray both delight at sniping runs at defences. Cooney may be light on Caps but he has loads of experience having played for three provinces and excelled at all…
Yep, no sympathy for Murray or Sexton, thats 2 games they havent performed. Get in the queue and earn your places again boys. And this is why Joe should be rotating the squad more often. Like it was mentioned above, get your game time at the provinces…..and then bring that game to the national team, if youre good enough. Class is permanent, Joe says, yeah but who puts BOD (no disrespect meant) in at 13 these days. Form…form…form
@Trev: sexton was poor v England but he was running the game v Scotland until he got injured. We’d have won by 30 if he’d have stayed on.
@Chris Mc: complete tosh. Apart from the assist to stockdale sexton was bang average. Kicking out of hand was poor and his kick from the tee was embarrassing. He wasn’t as poor as Murray but don’t kid yourself if you think he’s in any better form. Last decent shift sexton put in was against NZ for club and country.
@Chris Mc: yes he got injured, is that your or my fault? No. As the saying goes……youre only as good as your last game. He’s had 2 now, & so has Murray. There is plenty of class waiting in the wings (but thats another discussion)…
Just re-read the headline, that is just pish! Either he can play at the highest level or…he cant. Simple until he gets back up there. But do not waste international minutes on him on the off-chance that he is going to take another 10 or so games to rediscover his form. Same with Sexton….Joe its time to start cracking the whip!!!
@Trev: I think Joe Schmidt will start Sexton and Murray.I also think he should
I’d really like to see the other players get a chance to prove their worth under pressure. What is going to happen in the RWC if a key member gets injured? The tournament is beyond Ireland realistically, so give Carbery etc starting roles. We don’t want a repeat of player burnout before the finals stages
Murray’s been way off it the last number of games ever since Exeter visited Limerick. Hope he rediscovers but can’t be at the expense of Ireland.