Jacob Stockdale had run out of the tunnel wearing the Ulster jersey many times before – 149, to be exact.

But this one felt different.

With his daughters, Phoebe and Bonnie, either side of him, he was the first player out on the pitch against Munster as he marked a century-and-a-half of Ulster appearances.

It had been a long time coming for a wing who burst onto the scene in 2016, only for injuries to derail so much early promise.

But, after a resurgent few years, he was thankful to reach the milestone with his family by his side.

“When I was walking out, I was like, ‘I’m going to cry here’,” he told BBC Sport NI.

“I had to kind of pull it back a wee bit a couple of times. My family are incredibly important to me and it was a very emotional day.”

Stockdale’s landmark moment came a week later than scheduled after he was forced out of the team to face Glasgow in the warm-up, but to do it at home, against your Irish rivals and with his family there, made it even more special.

The 30-year-old said it was “an amazing experience” to reach 150 games in white and red.

“When you get your first cap here, you dream about those days and to get to do it with my two daughters was amazing.

“Those are the memories you hold on to after you’re long gone from the pitch. It was really special.”

His first try came in the first half as he beat two Munster players to touch down, and his second came in Ulster’s comeback as he finished off a fine, flowing move.

“I always hoped I would [reach 150 Ulster appearances].

“I figured when I started playing here, that if I kept doing my job well and kept performing, that I’d maybe be able to reach it.

“But it was throughout the last week, looking back over the years, it was a bit of a pinch me moment, but it’s been brilliant.”

Stockdale marked his milestone occasion with two tries in Belfast, but not the win he had hoped for.

A week on from a 33-33 draw in Glasgow, Ulster fought back from being 21 points down at half-time but had to settle for another thrilling draw with their Irish rivals.

It means that Richie Murphy’s side are without a win in their opening three United Rugby Championship matches, and Ulster’s head coach had said his side were “playing matches like they are training sessions”.

“You can’t do anything else than be honest and be up front,” Stockdale said.

“There’s no point in sugarcoating anything because that doesn’t help you get better.

“For us, it’s making sure that we’re process-driven and not trying to focus too much on the outcomes.”

Ulster are back in action on Saturday as Murphy’s side travel to Zebre in the Challenge Cup.

Stockdale was key as Ulster reached the final of last season’s competition, where they were convincingly beaten by Montpellier in the sweltering Bilbao heat to miss out on a first trophy in 20 years.

The wing missed the final with a fractured cheek picked up in the win over Exeter Chiefs in the last four, and he says “we’re all still hurting a bit” from defeat in the decider.

“Equally, we saw what we were capable of in the cup last year,” he said.

“It’s just about putting those performances back on the pitch and I don’t see any reason why we can’t push on and do what we did last year, and hopefully more.”

As is often the case, the topic of Ireland selection comes up with the Rugby World Cup now less than 12 months away.

When he burst onto the scene with his Ireland debut, with 19 tries in his first four years as an international, it looked like he would be a fixture on Ireland’s wing for years to come.

But, injuries and a resulting loss of form saw him drop out of the international picture.

However, he has worked himself back into the frame and was involved in Ireland’s Nations Championship, with four more November fixtures to come.

It was fitting that his two tries on his landmark appearance for Ulster came in front of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell – something Stockdale did not realise at the time.

But it is something that doesn’t phase him, regardless of who is in the stands.

In short, “it’s something I can’t control”, so his full focus is on his performances in white.

“I know that’s a bit of a cliche answer that everybody says, but I’m just worrying about my rugby here and whatever else happens, happens.

“I’m really not going to worry about it. I’m just worrying about my rugby here.”

He is asked again but his Ireland prospects in a big year, but he’s happy to be “unbelievably boring again”.

“Genuinely, I’m just worried about the next couple of weeks with Ulster.

“I’m looking forward to the Zebre game, going after it and then it will be the Bulls and Stormers.

“Anything else that comes in a month’s time or a year’s time, I’ll worry about it then.”