Ireland set sights on top of world

Jacob Stockdale insists Ireland want to harness their Grand Slam triumph to become the best team in the world.

The record-breaking wing believes “the sky is the limit” on his own try-scoring potential, and backed Ireland to run backto-back world champions New Zealand all the way for the tag of the globe’s top Test outfit.

Stockdale set a new Six Nations-era record seven tries in a single tournament as Ireland saw off England at Twickenham on Saturday, to secure just their third-ever Grand Slam.

The 21-year-old now boasts 11 tries in just nine Tests, and admitted Ireland cannot wait to host the world’s No 1 side, the All Blacks, in Dublin this November.

“We’ve won a Grand Slam, and that’s the first stepping stone to being a dominant team in world rugby,” said Stockdale, with Ireland leapfrogging England to second in the world rankings during the Six Nations.

“We’re sitting No 2 in the world, and we’re excited to have a crack at New Zealand. We’re in a really good place right now but there’s still a lot to work on.

“We can look forward to next year’s Six Nations and then the World Cup.

“Look, Joe (Schmidt) hasn’t said ‘New Zealand is the target’ but your ambition is to be the best team in the world and to do that you have to beat the best team in the world. At the minute that’s New Zealand.

“We’re going to keep training and working as hard as we can.”

Stockdale’s rapid-fire scoring rate has left him trailing only England’s Cyril Lowe and Scotland’s Ian Smith in the try stakes for a single championship.

Wales secured runners-up spot by edging out France 14-13 at the Principality Stadium.

Jacob Stockdale: seven tries in the Six Nations tournament.