Stockdale motivated by keyboard warrior critics

It does not matter how secure Jacob Stockdale’s place in the Ireland first XV appeared, doubts about his status in the World Cup pecking order still lingered right up until the email from Joe Schmidt dropped into his inbox on Sunday night.

Two tries in the previous day’s Test win against Wales in Cardiff, his first at international level in four matches dating back to February 24 in Rome, did Stockdale’s cause no harm at all, and proved the perfect riposte to criticism he received over his defensive display in the eight-try rout by England seven days earlier at Twickenham.