Scotland v Ireland: Dangerman Jacob Stockdale back in the frame to face Scots

Jacob Stockdale has returned to the Ireland squad for Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland in Edinburgh.

Jacob Stockdale won his last Ireland cap in the Autumn Nations Cup win over Scotland in Dublin last December.

The 24-year-old winger missed the opening three rounds of the championship after damaging his knee playing for Ulster against Munster on January 2.

Stockdale has a good record against Scotland and scored a try in the 22-13 win in the corresponding fixture at BT Murrayfield in 2019. He also bagged a try double against the Scots in the 2018 Six Nations in a 28-8 win in Dublin.

In total, Stockdale can boast five wins from five appearances against Scotland, his last coming in the Autumn Nations Cup clash at the Aviva last December.

A statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union said: “Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale returns to the squad having missed the opening three rounds through injury while Shane Daly will remain at Munster.

“The 36-man squad will travel to Edinburgh on Friday ahead of playing Scotland on Sunday at BT Murrayfield.

“Josh van der Flier will go through the graduated return-to-play protocols this week in Ireland camp while there were no significant injury concerns from the other 12 players who featured in the Guinness PRO14 fixtures over the weekend.”

Stockdale returned to action in Ulster’s Pro14 victory over Ospreys on February 26.

The 33-times capped speedster built up his fitness further in the 38-19 home defeat to Leinster on Saturday.

Ireland lost their opening two Six Nations matches, against Wales and France, for the first time before beating Italy 48-10 in Rome.

Ireland squad

Backs: B Aki (Connacht), B Burns (Ulster), R Byrne (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), A Conway (Munster), K Earls (Munster), C Farrell (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), H Keenan (Leinster), J Larmour (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), C Murray (Munster), G Ringrose (Leinster), J Sexton (Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster).

Forwards: R Baird (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), E Byrne (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster), W Connors (Leinster), U Dillane (Connacht), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), D Heffernan (Connacht), I Henderson (Ulster), R Herring (Ulster), R Kelleher (Leinster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), T O’Toole (Ulster), A Porter (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), R Ruddock (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), J Van Der Flier (Leinster).

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