There were few sights more familiar during the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations than Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale diving across the whitewash.
It was a Championship to remember for the 21-year-old, who touched down a seventh try against England at Twickenham on Super Saturday.
Vote for the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations Player of the Championship His contribution to Ireland’s Grand Slam triumph can not be understated, with the Ulster man also scoring two tries against Italy, two against Wales and two against Scotland. This hot streak made him the first player in more than a 100 years to have scored multiple tries in three consecutive Championship matches. His seventh score against England in the 24-15 win also saw Stockdale break the record for the most tries scored in a Six Nations campaign. Only two men have scored more tries in a single championship than Stockdale in the history of the competition. England’s Cyril Lowe notched eight tries in 1914, while Scotland’s Ian Smith matched that figure in 1924, but with age on his side, Stockdale could yet surpass that record. He now boasts an impressive tally of 11 tries in just nine Tests in the famous green jersey and looks set to become a fixture of the Ireland side for years to come.
