Ian Madigan gives us emergency option, explains Joe Schmidt

Ian Madigan has spent the last year working behind the scenes to prepare to cover scrum-half for Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has gambled on taking just two recognised scrum-halves to the World Cup, omitting Isaac Boss and Kieran Marmion.

Fly-half Madigan has quietly beavered away at adding yet another string to his backline bow at Schmidt’s behest, and has now started to run in at nine in training this week.