PIUTAU BACKS STOCKDALE TO BE WORLD STAR

Ulster v Ospreys Tomorrow 3.15pm

DEPARTING Kiwi Charles Piutau believes Ulster boast a genuine superstar in Jacob Stockdale.

Piutau (inset) leaves for Bristol following tomorrow’s Champions Cup play-off with Ospreys in Belfast tomorrow.

And the dynamic New Zealander showed little hesitation when asked to name the Ulster player who has left the biggest impression during his two-year stay at the Kingspan.

Piutau said: “As players, we all know who has a big future and it’s Jacob.

“It’s been great to see the way his career has played out since I’ve been here and to witness it first hand.”

Stockdale, 22, has scored 11 tries in only nine Ireland appearances – including a record seven in this year’s Six Nations to help Joe Schmidt’s men to Grand Slam glory.

Asked if he sees a reflection of his own game in Stockdale, Piutau said: “I think Jacob is trading on his own name and skill set.

“What ULSTER has impressed me is the way he has taken the pressure or opportunities and grabbed them with both hands.

“Sometimes with young players, they don’t deal with it all that well, whether it’s international level or big European games.

“But that’s the thing I’ve enjoyed about Jacob, seeing his confidence grow and also growing as an individual, no matter what situations he has been put into.”

Piutau, who joined from Wasps in 2016, hopes to end his spell with Ulster on a relative high as the Kingspan men bid to secure qualification for Europe’s premier competition.

Piutau said: “I just want to put on my best performance for my team-mates.

“We know there’s a lot at stake and I’d love to leave knowing they’ll be staying in top level European rugby.”

Key Ireland international duo Rory Best (hamstring) and Iain Henderson (knee) are missing, while Piutau, Robbie Diack and Callum Black all play their last games for the province. OSPREYS TV TIMES: Live on BBC2 NI and S4C from 3pm