Brave call by manager but not the right one

In parachuting Paddy Jackson into the Ireland number 10 jersey for this Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland, Declan Kidney has made the biggest call of his tenure as the national team head coach.

Breaking with his own conservatism when it comes to selection, Kidney yesterday turned his back on veteran fly-half Ronan O’Gara as his go-to guy in the absence of the injured Jonny Sexton and will place not only Ireland’s championship title hopes but also his ambitions to lead the team beyond this summer on the undoubtedly talented but untested shoulders of 21-year-old debutant Jackson.

If the plan works, and Ireland supporters will hope that it does, then their side will remain in the hunt for a first title since Kidney led them to the Grand Slam in his first Six Nations campaign in 2009 and the head coach will be step nearer to the new contract he desires that will place him in charge through to the 2015 World Cup.