Target Ronan if you dare, Scotland told

Scotland have been challenged to target Ronan O’Gara at Murrayfield on Sunday as the veteran fly-half prepares to start his first game for Ireland since the 2011 World Cup.

With first-choice out-half Jonny Sexton one of five starters in the defeat to England 10 days ago ruled out of this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations match, Munster’s O’Gara has been backed to silence the critics calling for Ulster rookie Paddy Jackson to start instead.

Jackson, 21, looks set to hold off Sexton’s Leinster club-mate Ian Madigan for the back-up fly-half role, with 34-year-old O’Gara, despite a slip in form as a replacement against England that continued into Munster’s defeat at Scarlets last Saturday, poised to be handed Ireland’s No 10 jersey for the trip to Edinburgh when Declan Kidney announces his team today.