Stockdale scores twice on 150th appearance as Ulster fight back to draw with Munster

Jacob Stockdale marked his 150th appearance for Ulster with two tries as his side fought back from 21 points down at half-time to draw with Munster in Belfast.

It was a night built for a milestone. Stockdale walked out with his daughters Phoebe and Bonnie on either side of him. The 30-year-old winger told BBC Sport NI he felt like crying BBC Sport.

He then delivered on the pitch. A try in rugby union means grounding the ball over the opposition line for five points, and Stockdale did it twice to drag Ulster back into a game that had looked gone.

The celebration came a week later than planned. Stockdale had been due to reach 150 against Glasgow but was forced out in the warm-up. That match finished 33-33.

That result was part of a frustrating start. Ulster arrived to face Munster without a win from their opening three matches in the United Rugby Championship, the cross-border league featuring teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa.

The milestone had originally been lined up for the Glasgow game on 3 October, when Jack Murphy was named to continue at fly-half — the playmaker who directs the attack — and young Devine was due to make his first start after coming off the bench on debut BBC Sport.

For Stockdale, 150 caps tells a story of staying power. He missed Ulster’s Challenge Cup final defeat by Montpellier in Bilbao after fracturing a cheek against Exeter Chiefs in the semi-final. He burst onto the Test scene with 19 tries in his first four years as an Ireland international.

What makes this stand out is the timing. Ulster needed calm heads at half-time, 21 points adrift. Stockdale provided them.

For fans, this means momentum at last. Another draw does not fix a winless run. But a comeback like that, led by a homegrown finisher on his big day, feels different. Ireland will be watching too, with four November fixtures to come in the Nations Championship.