O'Driscoll blasts 'unforgivable' Stockdale error while Ulster fans rally around their star

Former Leinster and Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll believes that Stockdale's in-goal blunder in Ulster's quarterfinal clash at Aviva Stadium is 'unforgivable'.

“It is going to be the story tomorrow,” Brian O’Driscoll said in the BT Sport post-match show.

“It was brilliantly manufactured by Ulster and again he had a fair bit of work to do, but this unfortunately for Jacob Stockdale is unforgivable.

“When you find yourself over the whitewash, yes there is a player dragging out of him looking to get a challenge in, but you’ve got to dive.”

Ulster was ahead by two points at the time, 13-11 and the score would have proved pivotal as they ended up losing the game 20-18. Three minutes after Stockdale's blunder Leinster took the lead through Adam Byrne.

“You’ve got to guarantee the ball goes down,” O’Driscoll added.

“There is a risk of knocking the ball on or losing it in contact, that does not happen or tends not to happen far less frequently when you dive. It’s the whole momentum swing of the game.

“They’re 11-13, they score that, it’s guaranteeing a 7-point game that gives you security, the momentum is with you and they still have the conversion to knock over for a two-score game.

“That is everything in tight affairs like this.”

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was quick to defend his star winger, adding that is not the reason they lost the game.

"That's not the reason why we lost that game.

"I'm not dwelling on that. I'm very proud of him and I'm very glad he's on my team."

Many Ulster fans were supportive of Stockdale, with many noticing how upset the 22-year-old was. There was a resounding message of support for him.

Leinster advance to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup alongside Saracens and Munster who defeated both Scottish teams Edinburgh and Glasgow in the weekend's action.

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