Ian Madigan: Don’t forget me, Joe

Ian Madigan admits to fears that he could slip out of Joe Schmidt’s World Cup plans, what with two of his main rivals for a place in the squad set to benefit from the opportunity to display their wares in the Pro12 play-offs.

Munster’s Ian Keatley and Ulster’s Paddy Jackson will both feature prominently in the play-off ties, against Ospreys and Glasgow respectively, while Madigan and the rest of his Leinster teammates make do with an unwanted weekend off after a fifth-placed league finish.

“All professional players are naturally worriers,” said Madigan at the launch yesterday of Ireland’s official range of Canterbury training wear for the World Cup and beyond. “I definitely would (worry), but for me it is about controlling the controllables.