Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Red Rose get help from ref
Minister’s son Jacob repaying the faith
IT hasn’t taken long for Jacob Stockdale to preach to the converted, such has been the sensational start to his career.
Only 21, the electric winger has already played in a U20 World Cup final. On Saturday, he could be celebrating his central part in only Ireland’s third ever Grand Slam triumph.
But there’s more. In his first Six Nations, he has already surpassed the try total of any Irishman in championship season.
His six scores leave him tied with England’s Will Greenwood (2001) and Chris Ashton (2011) and Wales’ Shane Williams (2008).
One more on his first ever visit to Twickenham will hand the record to Stockdale alone. “I’m not thinking of that,” he insisted. “I’m focusing on the game and performing as well as I can for myself and the team. If it comes up, happy days.”
But does he pinch himself ? It’s been the quickest of fast rides to the top.
“To a certain extent,” smiled the Ulsterman, who has chalked up a brace of tries in each of his last three games against Italy, Wales and Scotland to bring his total to 10 in eight Tests overall.
“It’s weird to realise I’m at this level now and playing regularly in the Six Nations. If you told me that a year ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. On the other hand, I’ve worked really hard to get where I am, putting in good performances for Ulster and Ireland U20s – stuff like that.
“So I feel like I have built towards it but I’m pretty pleased at how it has accelerated more than I expected.”
That his father is a minister of the cloth could prompt headlines about a higher power at work or highlighting Stockdale’s heavenly talents.
Joking aside, the Reverend Graham’s work sees him minister in a hospice in Newry and in two prisons, Maghaberry and Hydebank.
What it meant for Jacob was that the family moved around a lot when he was young. “My dad moved about a bit from church to church and then he left the ministry and went into chaplaincy in prisons and hospices,” he said. “With that we moved about a wee bit. I know a lot of people in Northern Ireland! I spent most of my childhood in Ballynahinch but my family moved around a lot, we have lived in five or six different towns growing up.
“Although we moved around a lot I managed to stay in the same secondary school, Wallace
High School, which was a big thing for me.
“I had a real good base of friends there, it was the first community I was part of from start to finish.”
Stockdale – who has cherished being mentored by Ulster and Ireland greats
Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble – admits he is one of those competitors who chases perfection every time he s steps on to the pitch.
It’s why he admits t to “mixed emotions” a after l earning h e w was a Six Nations champion at the first attempt, the lure of a
Grand Slam a stronger feeling than cherishing a title win.
“Ever y player on the pitch is chasing the perfect game,” he said. “When you walk out, you’re not thinking, ‘I hope I have an 80% game’.
You’re going out saying, ‘I want a 100% game here’.
“If you don’t chase 100% you’re chasing
80% and you might get 60%. For me it’s going out and having the very best game I can.”
His defensive work has been questioned at times but Stockdale believes that side of his game is flourishing under coach Andy Farrell.
“I was actually quite pleased with how my defence went against Scotland,” he argued.
“Every week I’ve felt like I learned something.
I feel I’ve grown as a player and that’s the vitally important thing.”