Sharks defeat sums up Ulster’s season – Stockdale

Jacob Stockdale, the full-back for Ulster, describes Saturday’s 22-19 defeat by the Sharks as “a game that got away.”

After a fantastic opening half against a Sharks side that included eight World Cup winners and South Africa, the hosts took a 19-5 lead.

The Sharks won, but the visitors held on for the majority in the second half thanks to Jordan Hendrikse’s late penalty.

Stockdale told BBC Sport NI, “The first half of our cooking was fantastic.”

Despite receiving a first-half yellow card, Stockdale was named player of the match after impressing at full-back. He described the incident as a “disappointing one” that let the momentum wane.

With only two games left, Ulster is now in the 12th place in the United Rugby Championship.

While Richie Murphy’s team are only three points away from winning knockout rugby, the top eight must likely need victories away from Edinburgh and Munster to advance to the play-offs.

“It’s a disappointing one, and I suppose that’s representative of the season we’ve had,” Stockdale said. “There’s a lot of really promising stuff but we haven’t quite been able to cross the line.”

There are still a few games to play in the playoffs, the team said. Our focus must shift to that, in my opinion, because we can still do that.

Eight players who will leave the province at the end of the season will play at full-back in the final home game against Ulster, according to Stockdale, who said he “loved the freedom” of playing at full-back instead of his traditional wing position.

One of them is Ravenhill captain Alan O’Connor, who Stockdale described as “one of the best leaders who has ever graced” Ulster’s home in Ravenhill.

“I don’t take lightly what I say,” I said. He is a truly humble person, and he consistently brings the best version of himself to Ulster.