Ireland’s winners make the acquaintance of that losing feeling

Jacob Stockdale entered new territory with Ireland this week, on the wrong end of a Test result for the first time in his international career.

From a try-scoring debut last summer against the United States to the Ulster man’s 11th try in nine Tests against England at Twickenham which helped secure the Six Nations Grand Slam on St Patrick’s Day, the 22-year-old’s career in the green jersey had been a series of glittering successes.

Stockdale added the individual Six Nations try-scoring record for a single season with seven in five games and also walked off with the Player of the Championship award.