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I think everybody knows that Declan Kidney will pick Ronan O'Gara to start with Paddy Jackson on the bench against Scotland in the event of Jonny Sexton being unfit. If you were the coach, who would you pick out of O'Gara, Jackson, Ian Keatley and Ian Madigan?
Trying to be fair, each has their plus points.....
O'Gara is very experienced and has the most tactical nous of all the contenders and brings a good passing game to the table. The negatives are very poor form, he sits too deep in the pocket, lack of range in his tactical kicking and an inability to break and tackle competently.
Jackson reminds me of a younger O'Gara circa 2000. He always has time on the ball, brings players into the game and is a solid kicker for field position and, more often than not, at goal too. What he lacks is confidence and the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Madigan is the best attacking threat of the lot, he passes brilliantly, his goal kicking stats are over 80% this season, he has a massive boot and he's been learning from Sexton and Joe Schmidt for the last few years. His negatives are his tactical kicking, he's prone to brain farts and he only has one start at 10 at Heineken Cup level.
A lot of Keatley's strengths and weaknesses are the same as Madigan's. While his strengths aren't as pronounced as Madigan, neither are his weaknesses.
All things considered, I'd go with Madigan to start and Jackson on the bench. Madigan outplayed Jackson despite being beind a beaten pack in Ravenhill 6 weeks ago, he has the attitude to thrive at international and he's become a leader for Leinster whenever he starts. O'Gara is yesterday's man. Keatley becomes an option once he supplants O'Gara but not before then. You could argue the same about Madigan supplanting Sexton but Sexton is twice the player O'Gara is
Trying to be fair, each has their plus points.....
O'Gara is very experienced and has the most tactical nous of all the contenders and brings a good passing game to the table. The negatives are very poor form, he sits too deep in the pocket, lack of range in his tactical kicking and an inability to break and tackle competently.
Jackson reminds me of a younger O'Gara circa 2000. He always has time on the ball, brings players into the game and is a solid kicker for field position and, more often than not, at goal too. What he lacks is confidence and the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Madigan is the best attacking threat of the lot, he passes brilliantly, his goal kicking stats are over 80% this season, he has a massive boot and he's been learning from Sexton and Joe Schmidt for the last few years. His negatives are his tactical kicking, he's prone to brain farts and he only has one start at 10 at Heineken Cup level.
A lot of Keatley's strengths and weaknesses are the same as Madigan's. While his strengths aren't as pronounced as Madigan, neither are his weaknesses.
All things considered, I'd go with Madigan to start and Jackson on the bench. Madigan outplayed Jackson despite being beind a beaten pack in Ravenhill 6 weeks ago, he has the attitude to thrive at international and he's become a leader for Leinster whenever he starts. O'Gara is yesterday's man. Keatley becomes an option once he supplants O'Gara but not before then. You could argue the same about Madigan supplanting Sexton but Sexton is twice the player O'Gara is
