IRELAND v WALES T’S TIME TO AKE STOCK AND BUILD

Jacob starting to enjoy winging it for Irish

JACOB Stockdale is delighted he’s been branded – even if he refuses to go with the flow.

When he was 19, the Ulsterman annoyed his mother by getting a tattoo – but it all worked out in the end.

“She said, ‘You’re not getting a tattoo’,” smiled Stockdale, who makes his third 6 Nations appearance today.

“And I got it and she said, ‘I can’t believe you got that’.

“But I was like, ‘I’ve got your initial on it’ and she goes, ‘That’s actually quite nice’.”

His show of rebellion turned out to be not so extreme – the tattoo is a cross with his family’s initials around it.

But Stockdale displayed a similar streak of stubborness in his dealings with Ulster.

Going against the grain, he agreed just a one-year contract in the past two seasons.

Most kids in his position would have looked for more security. This week, in fact, he has finally signed a longer deal with Ulster until 2020.

But he wasn’t looking for security at the start – just a platform to showcase his huge potential.

“It’s not usually encouraged,” acknowledged Stockdale.

“But I just tried to back myself and let my rugby speak for itself, and not have to worry. Luckily enough, it paid off.

“It (the latest contract) is a good way to top off a pretty nice week for me.”

It’s clear he’s loving it. Capped for the first time last summer in the US and Japan, Stockdale made a massive impact at the Aviva in November – scoring tries in the wins against South Africa and Argentina.

Joe Schmidt kept the faith and Stockdale has kept his spot on the left flank throughout this championship so far.

“I definitely am getting more used to it,” said Stockdale, who has six tries in six Tests. “I don’t know

LFAif I’d ever describe it as daunting.

“It’s definitely is a really big challenge – but it’s something I’m starting to enjoy.”

Stockdale revealed: “The goal I had set myself was to be playing in the 6 Nations by the time I was 23, so I didn’t see it coming. I’m incredibly happy.”

And his ambitions have since shifted to a higher goal.

“Now it’s to win a 6 Nations,” he confessed. “I’m playing in it now and I want to win it.

“Further along from that, it’s World Cups and being successful with Ulster. I’ve a lot of goals still to achieve.”

This season has been a genuine success story for the 21-year-old.

“I set really high standards for myself,” Stockdale confided. “I want to be the best player on the pitch.

“I’m just as disappointed as everyone else whenever I don’t play well. There’s a little bit of pressure but most of that’s put on me by myself.

“Playing with guys like Johnny (Sexton) and Conor Murray, guys I’ve grown up watching, it’s made a lot easier because I’ve trained with them and know them as people.”