Jacob Stockdale’s Determination to Prove Andy Farrell Wrong After World Cup Snub…
One of the most significant decisions facing Andy Farrell when picking the Irish World Cup squad was whether to include Keith Earls or Jacob Stockdale in the final backline spot.
In the end, Earls got the nod, despite carrying a minor injury into the tournament. Shortly after Ireland’s quarter-final exit at the hands of New Zealand, Earls announced his retirement from professional rugby.
Given that Farrell had convinced Earls to delay his retirement in the months leading up to the World Cup, it seemed likely he would win the spot over Stockdale. Nevertheless, there was intense debate before the tournament about who deserved the position more.
Jacob Stockdale expressed his disappointment with the decision, but after a strong start to the URC season with Ulster, where he resumed his try-scoring form, he is determined to demonstrate that Andy Farrell made the wrong choice – in the most respectful manner.
Jacob Stockdale has channeled his World Cup omission into motivation. Speaking with BBC Sport Northern Ireland, he admitted to his disappointment at missing out on the 33-man World Cup squad for Ireland, noting that it was a significant goal for him to participate in the tournament in France.
However, he also acknowledged that he understood Farrell’s reasoning behind the decision and is resolute in proving him wrong through his performances for Ulster:
“For any international rugby player, going to a World Cup is a significant goal. I was disappointed to be left out, but at the same time, Faz has built a high-quality squad with strong competition. It just made more sense for him to select other players instead of me. I completely grasp that.
It doesn’t mean it’s not disheartening and a bit frustrating, but I comprehend it. Especially considering my recent performance in the last few months, it has only motivated me even more to, in the most gracious way, prove Faz wrong.”
Stockdale has certainly started the season on a strong note, scoring two tries in his first game for Ulster as they defeated Zebre 40-36 on the opening weekend of the URC season.
He went on to mention that he has evolved as a player since his standout 2018 season, during which he won the Six Nations Player of the Tournament accolade after scoring seven tries in five games:
“I’m very confident in that. I haven’t transformed as a player. I’m still the same player, but I feel like my game has developed. Maybe not in the sense of scoring seven tries in the Six Nations, but more in terms of enhancing the fundamentals of the game. I’m becoming a more well-rounded player, which is my ultimate goal.”
Ulster is set to face the Vodacom Bulls in their first home game of the season on Sunday at 5 pm, with Jacob Stockdale once again taking his place on the wing.
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