Keatley Irish selection at Jackson’s expense a major call by Schmidt

Ian Keatley’s inclusion and Paddy Jackson’s absence will prompt much of the debate surrounding the squad Joe Schmidt has chosen to do battle with South Africa, Georgia and Australia next month.

Munster out-half Keatley’s place on the 37-man list came just three days after his game-winning drop kick for Munster in their opening Champions Cup game away to Sale, and marks another significant upturn in his fortunes.

Keatley wasn’t included in Schmidt’s first panel this time last year. Nor did he feature in the Six Nations (though he was part of the preliminary 44-man roster) or in the team’s two-man trip to Argentina during the summer.