Stockdale relishes chance to show off his creativity
I enjoy setting up tries more than latching onto an opportunity, insists Ulsterman
AS we enter the festive season, Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale is happy to live to the maxim that it is better to give than to receive.
A try-scorer of such pedigree that only six men have ever crossed the whitewash more frequently in the green jersey, his switch to full-back has been consistently bringing him into the play earlier, allowing for the supreme finisher to become more of a creator.
While there wasn’t much to enjoy about Sunday’s laboured win over Georgia, Stockdale’s range of distribution was on display both in his pass to set Hugo Keenan over for Ireland’s second score and an even lengthier effort spun to Stuart Mccloskey that would have brought another had it not been deemed marginally forward by the TMO.
“I’d say, to be honest, I’d probably enjoy the opportunity to set up tries rather than to take them myself,” said the Ulsterman.
“It felt really good, I obviously put Hugo in for one and I should have been able to get two on the board with the (forward) pass too, but yeah, it was a frustrating game but it was also quite enjoyable to play in as well.
“I’d say the length of my pass, that ability is always something I’ve had in my game. It’s not something I’ve really had the opportunity to pull out — mainly because you’re on the wing.
“There’s a certain (element of ) getting used to being in the middle of the pitch and looking for options. When you’re on the wing your mindset is carry and try to beat defenders because there’s rarely anyone inside or outside you as an option to pass to.
“That’s what I’ve got used to at 15, looking for the option more. I’d say the passing game is something I’ve always had in my locker.”
Still, those in the back-three are often judged on their scoring prowess and, while he’s turned provider more often in recent months, his own scores against France and England at least ceased talk of a relative drought after a run of two tries in 12 Tests despite both coming in defeat.
“Yeah, look, every time you go out on the pitch you want to score tries and you want to play as best as you can, they’re the two things as a back-three player that you want to do,” he admitted.
“If you could do those every week then you’re in a very, very good place.
“But I’d say I’ve never been motivated by scoring tries, I’m motivated by putting in good performances. A lot of time on the back of those good performances is when you tend to score.
“You don’t want to base your performance on whether you score a try or not, but it can put a shine on a good performance or it can lift up a poor performance.
“It’s always nice to score tries, it’s not something you base your performance solely on.
“But when you go a while without scoring a try there’s a wee bit of worry that slips in. To get a couple in the last few weeks, it’s been nice to steady the ship to a certain degree.
“It’s a nice thing to have beside your name that you’re in the top 10 try-scorers for Ireland. As my career progresses I’ll hopefully keep climbing that ladder, but we’ll see.”
The meeting with Scotland tomorrow afternoon, when Ireland will look to end an otherwise forgettable autumn on a high note, will be Stockdale’s fifth in a row at full-back. While there have been some much discussed learning experiences over the past weeks, the 24-year-old feels he has adjusted to the position as this Test window has progressed.
“I definitely do feel a lot more comfortable,” he said. “Like I think just for figuring out where I need to be on the pitch at different times in the game has been a massive learning point for me and something I definitely need to get better at.
“And then just in attack, what’s required of me in terms of connecting with other players, maybe staying more in the middle of the pitch and linking with other players rather than looking to get to the edge all the time.
“So there are a few things that I’m definitely feeling more comfortable with as I’m going along.”