Six Nations 2024: Jacob Stockdale hopes to fulfil goal of playing regularly for Ireland again
- Published
Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale hoping for a Six Nations return for Ireland
Jacob Stockdale's career has been something of a rollercoaster but the Ulster wing hopes his recent good form will prove enough to see him be part of Ireland coach Andy Farrell's plans for the forthcoming Six Nations.
Stockdale's Ireland career kicked off in 2017 but the 2018 Six Nations was when he really announced his arrival on the international stage as he scored seven tries and was named player of the tournament en route to the Grand Slam.
Since then, a combination of ankle injuries, loss of form and the arrival of some serious competition for the Ireland wing positions have conspired to limit the 27-year-old's appearances in the green shirt.
After a two-year exile, Stockdale did play a part in the Irish team's pre-World Cup warm-up games against Italy and Samoa and while he was not selected as part of the 33-man squad for the tournament itself, that involvement proved enough to provide extra motivation to become an integral part of the squad once again.
"The experience of playing the pre-season games before the World Cup and remembering how it is to be in that green shirt kind of lit the fire again," he explained.
"It's been my goal since I got my injury to get back into the Ireland team and I haven't quite fully achieved it yet, so I'll keep pushing for it.
"It was incredibly disappointing not to go to the World Cup but Faz [Andy Farrell] is a good guy. He treats you with respect and he's honest. That's all you can really ask for from a coach.
"Andy's a brilliant people person and I think that kind of filters down through the squad. He's very well trusted, a brilliant influence on Irish rugby, with a great coaching network around him."
'In a good place physically and from a form point of view'
Stockdale's impressive form for his province this campaign has seen him score six tries to date and has had Ulster head coach Dan McFarland lavishing praise on the 37-times capped wing for his counter-attacking ability, beating people and putting pressure on players defensively.
The news that Mack Hansen and Jimmy O'Brien will both miss the Six Nations through injury has further opened the door for Stockdale's likely inclusion in the Ireland squad and possible involvement in the tournament.
"For me, of course I want to be a part of it [the Six Nations]. Whether I get to play any games or not, of course that's not for me to decide.
"All I want to do is play as well as I can this weekend [for Ulster against Harlequins] to give myself a chance and if I get the opportunity to play in the tournament again, then take it with both hands.
"It would mean a lot after the injuries and the drop off in form. I feel like I've got myself back into a good place physically and from a form point of view.
"The injury was tough, everybody goes through injuries, but it's how you bounce back from them.
"If I'm in the squad, over the next eight or nine weeks, it's just about putting my best foot forward, working as hard as I can, and hopefully that opportunity comes up."
Stockdale scored one of his six tries for Ulster so far this season against Leinster on New Year's Day
'Doing the fundamentals well'
Stockdale's power and pace mean that his attacking prowess has never been in doubt but question marks over his defensive qualities have lingered.
"I feel like I'm on a good run of form at the moment, just doing the simple things right. I think that's the biggest thing for me and you get a few opportunities to show what you can do off the back of that.
"My goal for the next while is just doing the fundamentals well.
"My tackle success rate has improved. That has always been a big work-on for me for the majority of my career, just making sure I'm getting in good positions defensively and that makes the tackles that little bit easier."
'High-pressure Harlequins game'
Ulster's comprehensive 48-24 defeat by Toulouse at the weekend means they require a win way to Harlequins on Saturday to be certain of qualification for the last-16 knockout stage of the Champions Cup.
Stockdale says the trip to the Twickenham Stoop Stadium is a challenge McFarland's men are up for however.
"We are not in the position we would ideally have liked to be in at the start of the campaign. We would have liked to be going over there already qualified but that's not the scenario we are in.
"We relish these kind of games when your backs are against the wall and it's high pressure. In the past you've seen that we perform best in those situations.
"We're excited about the opportunity and the chance to play a tough Harlequins side who are playing well. It'll be a good challenge.
"Any time we have gone over to Harlequins we have created good memories there so we're hopeful we can do it again this weekend."