Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BLACK TO FRONT
Stockdale sure Jordan’s dancing feet can lead All Blacks a merry dance in quarter-final clash
ALL BLACKS slayer Andy Farrell believes the world champions won’t fancy having to face Ireland in a World Cup quarter-final.
Japan’s thrilling victory over Scotland in Yokohama saw the hosts leapfrog Ireland into top spot in Pool A. As runners-up, Ireland take on Pool B winners New Zealand.
But they won’t fear Steve Hansen’s side, having beaten them twice since 2016 – in Chicago and Dublin. Farrell (above), who succeeds Joe Schmidt at the end of the tournament, has beaten the All Blacks four times as a defence coach.
“We’d like to think nobody
JACOB Stockdale claims Jordan Larmour is turning into a real World Cup crowd pleaser.
Larmour, 22, is grabbing his chance on the big stage.
After a big performance at full-back against Scotland, he put on a show against Samoa in the no 15 shirt in Fukuoka.
He is putting pressure now on Rob Kearney for a starting spot in the quarter-final against the All Blacks.
“He was brilliant,” admitted Stockdale (inset). “His footwork is probably just as good as someone like South African sensation Cheslin Kolbe’s.
“We saw him bring that out on Saturday night. We all know how good he is.
“I do especially, having played against him a couple of times and now playing with him. I thought he had a great game, great for him.”
Larmour left the Hakatanomori Stadium with the man of the match award against Samoa – and the praise of his coaches ringing in his ears.
“He was great,” said Andy Farrell. “He was hard work to get hold of, that’s for sure.
“He’s a strong young lad as well. He’s a determined kid and I’m really pleased for him because he’s been dying to show everyone in the World Cup what he’s got.
“And certainly everyone got a nice little taste of it yesterday.”
Stockdale has been by far the most prolific try scorer in the Ireland squad over the past couple of years but he failed to get off the World Cup mark in the pool stages.
“I would have hoped to get one,” he admitted.
“It wasn’t one of those games where wingers got a lot of ball.
“That’s a bit disappointing for me but look, we got a massive win and in terms of the team’s performance it was brilliant.
“I’m just excited to move onto a quarter-final and maybe if I get a try there I’ll be a bit happier.
“We were saying all week it was only a matter of time before the performances came.
“To be honest, we didn’t think we performed that badly in the last couple of games so to be able to prove our point, especially with 14 men for 50 minutes, it was really good.” While all the focus afterwards was on Bundee Aki’s red card for a high tackle, Stockdale was the victim of one himself in the opening minutes when he was caught by Seilala Lam – who was binned.
“I was checking my teeth when I got up but they’re all there,” he smiled.
“I think it was harsh on Bundee. I thought there wasn’t an awful lot of difference between Bundee’s tackle and the tackle on me.
“That’s not a comment on anyone’s technique or anything like that, it’s more on the
inconsistency between cards that we’ve seen in this World Cup.
“If you get it wrong it’s a red card. It’s something we’re massively focused on to make sure we don’t do.
“Bundee’s was such a reactionary thing because the ball bounced and he was going from either carrying or making a tackle and he just was really unfortunate.
“Obviously his robustness and his physicality is massive for us. If he wasn’t available it would be a big loss but we’ve a lot of very, very good centres.
“Chris Farrell, Garry (Ringrose), Robbie (Henshaw), there’s three class centres to pick from if Bundee doesn’t make it.”
Stockdale will be ready for the biggest week yet of his rugby career with the All Blacks awaiting Ireland in Tokyo on Saturday.
“Boring answer, I’ll do exactly the same as every game, just train as hard as I can,” he said.
“It’s about getting the recovery. They’re going to be well rested and for us it’s going to be making sure that we’re as fresh as possible.
“Obviously having gotten over that hump of being able to beat them in Chicago and then back in Dublin, it’s a massive positive.
“But this is a World Cup. Anything can happen. New Zealand have been going very well, so it’ll be interesting to see”. left the Chiefs for his new life in Galway with Connacht five years ago.
“It was more just now after the game, seeing what me and him and Ray (Lee-lo) have achieved through the years,” said the Clermont player.
“Especially me and him, knowing each other since we were kids and just to see what he has gone on to achieve.
“You can’t get better than that. I just said to keep his head up and I’m very proud of him.
“It’s very hard to change your technique when everything is going 100 miles an hour and I honestly hope he gets off for it.”
Joe Schmidt has defended Aki, arguing that it was a legitimate tackle, and Samoa head coach Steve Jackson has pledged to give the Irish star with Samoan ancestry full backing in today’s disciplinary case (11.30am Irish time).
The IRFU have flown Declan Geraghty, a Dublin-based legal representative, to Tokyo for Aki’s hearing in front of a three-man panel.