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10th February 2018
07:35pm GMT

"Jacob, get up on the f***ing line!"Stockdale was ready to go but the chance had passed. Sexton shook his head and turned to captain Rory Best to consult on the next best move. It was a small moment in the game but it sums up what Sexton and this Ireland team are all about. The Leinster man was brought ashore after 56 minutes and though his right ankle and foot were iced and strapped soon after, Joe Schmidt did not flag him as an injury concern.
Stockdale will probably be delighted, then, that he came up with two excellent tries for his side in their 56-19 victory. This Six Nations could yet come down to points difference and every single one counts.
70 minutes into the match, he made a great read and intercept and floored it up the pitch. On this occasion he had another senior teammate screaming at him but he opted to back himself. His confidence was well placed as he beat the covering Italian forward and dotted down for his sixth try in six Tests.
Following the game, Stockdale said:
"To be honest, I didn't realise Keith was there until the replay. I was knackered and just gunning it as hard as I could to the line. So, no. "He said he was happy enough for me to take it on anyway because he was knackered as well."https://youtu.be/5KNIrkcBZGs Stockdale is learning what is expected with each and every game. He is also learning, no doubt, that no matter what you do, Sexton takes some pleasing.
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