Seize the day, Schmidt urges duo

Joe Schmidt has challenged Ian Keatley and Ian Madigan to help him not have to pick first-choice fly-half Johnny Sexton once he is cleared to return from a 12-week concussion lay-off.

Racing Metro playmaker Sexton was stood down from all rugby by French doctors following a concussion he sustained on Ireland duty against Australia last November. He will be clear to resume on February 14, the day Ireland welcome France to the Aviva Stadium, meaning head coach Schmidt has a choice between Madigan and Keatley as his starting fly-off for the RBS 6 Nations opener seven days earlier in Italy.

Yet while Sexton is expected to get the green light to return to contact training following the game in Rome, in order to face the French in Dublin, the length of his layoff makes his inclusion for such an important game a gamble for the Irish management and Schmidt said yesterday he was banking on whoever faces Italy to relieve some of the pressure in that regard.