As the race hots up for World Cup places, The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley is tipping Paddy Jackson to take the deputy fly-half role behind Jonathan Sexton despite missed kicks in the warm-up game against Wales.
Speaking to Off The Ball, Gerry says the Ireland coaching staff will have noted the Ulster man's positive contributions, despite three missed kicks.
"They would have been encouraged very much by the way he responded with the next kick from 45 metres out and he nailed that penalty," said Gerry.
"That's almost more encouraging than the miss. He gets brownie points for that and he missed a couple more wide touchline conversions. More pertinently, his game was very good. Back-lines move well outside Paddy Jackson - they just do. He gives the right pass, picks out the right receiver, takes the ball to the gain-line.
"They would not have been so much impressed with three grubber kicks that basically cost possession each time in the first half and why he was doing that so much. But I think allowances should be made for him and I think he will go to the World Cup. I think he might start one of the pool games but I'm not so sure, he will be in the match-day squad for the big matches. If all things are equal, more likely it will be Jonny Sexton starting and Ian Madigan on the bench because Madigan is a better goal kicker and can also cover 12."
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