Richie Murphy trusts Ian Madigan to bounce back

Ian Madigan endured a tormenting day with the boot for Leinster against Wasps last weekend but the man who knows his kicking abilities best has backed him to bounce back against Italy on Saturday week, says Brendan O’Brien.

Richie Murphy has worked alongside both Jonathan Sexton and Madigan with Leinster and is doing so again as Ireland prepare for the Six Nations in his role as Joe Schmidt’s skills and kicking coach.

Murphy has long voiced the virtues of Madigan as a place-kicker, one who has upped his game significantly in that department in recent years, but who missed four of his seven efforts on goal at the Ricoh Arena four days ago.