Opportunity knocks as Paddy Jackson steps up for Johnny Sexton

One man’s misfortune is another’s stroke of luck, but Paddy Jackson is going to have to take full advantage of Johnny Sexton’s injury in the most demanding of rugby environments.

Sexton had shoulder surgery this week and his absence is a huge blow for a squad already shorn of Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy, and Sean O’Brien.

As Ireland coach Joe Schmidt talked about the competition between Jackson and Ian Madigan to wear the green No 10 jersey against South Africa it was hard to imagine the outgoing Leinster man getting first crack at the Springboks in Cape Town next weekend.