JACOB’S TRY TOUCH STAYS
JACOB Stockdale has been out of sight, absent for almost a year with an injured ankle.
But he reminded Andy Farrell he has the best try strike-rate of any Ireland international ever by opening his Ulster account first game back.
The 26 year-old Newtownstewart-born flyer sits joint sixth in the all-time Ireland chart — led by Brian O’Driscoll’s 46 touchdowns in 133 caps
— having bagged 19 in 35 internationals.
That translates as an international try every .57 games.
Moreover, should he score a try in any of his next four Ireland appearances he will be the quickest to reach the 20 mark.
Stockdale returned after injuring his ankle in the first URC game against Glasgow last season.
Coming in as a halftime sub at Ravenhill, he delighted coach Dan McFarland by touching down late on as Ulster posted four tries to beat Exeter Chiefs 31-12 at the weekend.
High
“Jacob took a couple of nice high balls there,” said McFarland afterwards of bringing Stockdale on at fullback, “but he’ll be disappointed with the one he missed.
“Overall he took a couple well and got a few runs off the back of those and was breaking tackles.
“I think he needs to be out there playing competitive rugby against good teams because that will help get him into a bit of a rhythm.
“He’s got into a bit of a rhythm with us in training and the way that we train over the summer and hopefully he pushes on over the next couple of weeks.”
Leinster won 26-21 away to Harlequins at The Stoop and were also benefitting from a noted try-scorer, openside Scott Penny crossing in the last quarter.
The 22 year-old has only played 44 games for the Blues but 23 tries is sensational for a flanker.
An Ireland U20 international, Penny is expected to join the Emerging Ireland squad this autumn.
“It was pleasing overall considering
Harlequins start their season next week and had played a game last week,” said Leinster boss Leo Cullen.
“It was good to see young players Charlie (Ngatai) and Jason (Jenkins) wear the shirt for the first time and to see Will Connors and Dave Kearney, who missed huge chunks of last season, there too.”
Munster lost out 14-19 to Declan Kidney’s London Irish at Musgrave Park.
The previous weekend the Reds lost 19-28 to similar English Premiership opposition in Gloucester.
This time round, coach Graham Rowntree watched as The Exiles, with Paddy Jackson pulling the strings from out-half, built a 12-0 first-half lead
The home side made eight changes ahead of the second half and were soon on the scoreboard as one of those, Mike Haley crossed for a try following good work from another, Malakai Fekitoa
A further London Irish try put them 19-7 up before Paddy Patterson sniped over from close range near the close.