Ian Keatley: I’ll work hard and keep the pressure on Johnny

Ian Keatley freely admits Ireland are a better team with Johnny Sexton at fly-half but that is a motivation for the Munster No.10 rather than a deterrent to proving he belongs at Test level.

Despite a jittery start against Italy in Rome as the Azzurri flooded into his defensive channel, some kicks went astray and the majority of the 57,000-plus Stadio Olimpico crowd booed during his opening penalty kick, Keatley emerged from his Six Nations debut with head held high, the owner of a perfect goal-kicking record with 14 points in Ireland’s 26-3 win.

“I had a little bit of a shaky first few minutes, understandably I was a bit nervous,” Keatley admitted.