Role model.

Former Ireland international Stephen Ferris reckons Jacob Stockdale could learn a thing or two from fellow winger Jack Nowell in terms of his work off the ball.

Stockdale has an incredible try-scoring record for his country but has been criticised at times for his positioning and work off the ball.

He was also at fault for England’s second try a couple of weeks ago and has only scored twice in his last 11 games for Ireland, a far cry from his record of 11 tries in his first nine Tests.

Nowell meanwhile is known for incredible work off the ball with Eddie Jones suggesting in the past that he could even play seven for England.

“The worrying thing with Jacob Stockdale is that he doesn’t seem to want to get involved in matches, he isn’t going looking for the ball,” Ferris said on the RTE Rugby Podcast.

“It might seem silly to say but I would use somebody like Jack Nowell as an example.

“When he is not getting into the game, if the conditions aren’t great, all of a sudden he’ll just pop up at a ruck and give his team a bit of momentum, get his hands on the ball, just get a little bit busier.”

Keith Earls made a serious impact off the bench in the last two games and Ferris added that he thinks Stockdale’s position in the starting team is under threat.

Stockdale just seems to be drifting out of games and that hasn’t just been for the last couple of games,” Ferris added.

“For me, that’s been for the last six months so I think his position is under threat for sure. 

“He needs to get back to the Stockdale that we saw in 2018 because there are lads champing at the bit to take him down a peg or two.”