Another step up for Ulster’s talented starlet Jackson

As Ireland international selection calls go, Declan Kidney’s choice to toss in Ulster’s Paddy Jackson against Scotland ahead of Ronan O’Gara is pretty seismic.

It was not so much a leap of faith but a gigantic Bob Beamon-type jump out of the sand pit. Much could be said of his Ulster colleague Luke Marshall’s appearance beside him but once Jonathon Sexton was ruled out of the Six Nations, the press box mind games began. But although there were hints, nobody would have put their mortgage on the mild-mannered 21-year-old from Belfast starting at Murrayfield.

It’s not that he was banging on the door but there is no doubt he has the talent and a different kind of one than O’Gara. He is more akin to Sexton with his running lines, has soft hands, flair, tactical nous and a couple of good feet.

Ulster’s majestic scrum-half Ruan Pienaar has been nursing Jackson this season and commands the kicking duties, from the deck and out of hand, as witnessed last week at Ravenhill. Undoubtedly Ireland’s kicking guru Mark Tainton will have spent many a long hour with Jackson since the squad sessions began before the Six Nations build-up.

But Kidney is no fool. He, like coaches before him, have seen something he likes, and with Ireland’s season and his own future venturing near the rocks, it was time to be brave.

But when you consider that Jackson’s only other capped international experiences were when he led the Ireland U20 side last season and one Wolfhound outing in January, it is a surprise.

His Ulster debut was also a bit of a surprise when former coach Brian McLaughlin threw him in virtually unannounced against the Scarlets two season ago. McLaughlin again showed his confidence when naming the former Methodist College student in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh and final against Leinster.

Jackson first showed his wares when Methodist College won the 2009 Ulster Schools’ Cup final with McLaughlin the onlooking and envious coach to the losing RBAI side. Playing alongside Jackson that St Patrick’s Day were Craig Gilroy, Michael Allen, Michael Heaney, Niall Annett and Blane McIlroy, all who have moved on to the Ulster senior roster.

Gilroy has already shot into the headlines following his debut against Argentina in November. He was the first international from Methody since Jeremy Davidson in 1995. David Wells, doyen of schools’ rugby in Ulster, remembers baby-faced Jackson coming through the ranks.

“He just looked a talented wee player from the start,” said Wells.

“He played in a Schools’ Cup winning side for us when he was a fifth former. He was that good. He’s a modern-day fly-half who runs. kicks, passes and, most importantly tackles. He has everything that you need. Paddy was a very good player from the day he arrived at Methody.

He has similar attributes to Niall Malone back in the 90s. Malone, who won a couple of caps in 1991-92 is now the Ulster Elite Player Development Officer. Wells also claims the media have sometimes a lot to answer for young players not fulfilling their potential.

“Players who would make a representative side at a very young age can get the odd setback. People sometimes expect these players to be wonder boys and if they have any sort of an off game, the press get on their case. But Paddy is gifted and he does a lot of things instinctively,” said Wells who believes Jackson can handle the pressure ahead.

“He has a cool head,” explained Wells. “I thought the press were a little hard on him after Twickenham last season. I thought he made one of two errors in the entire game which unfortunately stood out.

“You do get a lot of young talented fly-halves now who can really control the game, but they cannot tackle. Not Paddy, he punches above his weight.”

Backing that up was McLaughlin who tossed Jackson into fray without any qualms about his size or age.

“Paddy is an all-round 10. Great hands, good kicker and not afraid to go close to the line,” said McLaughlin, who has the job now of talent-spotting and training new Ulster stars within the school system.

“There is only one way to see if he can take the pressure and that’s give him a go. Ronan O’Gara might have been the safe bet, but I was hoping that Paddy would be given his head. I think he is a smashing prospect and okay, maybe some will harp back to last year’s final, but let’s be brutally honest, in the semi-final against Edinburgh and the quarter-final against Munster in Thomond Park he was exemplary. I think he’ll be cool, calm and collected.”