Ireland exposure will improve Keatley, says boss

Joe Schmidt believes he can help make Ian Keatley a better player by bringing the Munster fly-half into the Ireland squad for next month’s Guinness Series.

Fresh from his European heroics last weekend, when he kicked the winning drop goal against Sale Sharks, Keatley was included in Schmidt’s 37-man squad alongside fellow fly-halves Johnny Sexton and Ian Madigan, with Ulster’s Paddy Jackson missing out.

That represents a reversal in fortunes for Keatley, 27, overlooked by Schmidt during the former Leinster coach’s first season at the Ireland helm.