Listen to the full interview via the podcast

If 2012/13 was a breakthrough season for Ian Madigan, this term has been more disappointing for the Leinster and Ireland fly half.

The 24-year-old battles Jimmy Gopperth for the No 10 jersey in the provincial stakes, while he faces a fight to deputize for Jonny Sexton at international level. 

Madigan joined us in studio tonight and he did not hide his disappointment about being unable to break further into Joe Schmidt's plans.

"It's disappointing to not be involved in the matchday 23. But I'm still there in the Six Nations squad," said Madigan who then gave an insight into his relationship with fellow Ireland fly halves Jonny Sexton and Paddy Jackson.

"When it's just myself, Jonny and Paddy out kicking, you're going to have a bit of fun between kicks. With me and Paddy, it's pretty close at the moment and the team doesn't get selected until later on in the week, so you might be asking each other 'have you heard anything yet?' You'll be praying that he's told that he's not selected but unfortunately I'm 0 from 2 on that front."   

Madigan added that the work done on the training ground will give him the best chance of giving Joe Schmidt and Matt O'Connor something to think about for Ireland and Leinster respectively.

He has had the opportunity to play with Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll at club level over the last couple of years and he gave a fascinating insight into what separates that partnership from less experienced ones.

"What makes my job really easy is being given calls from outside or inside. For example if I was playing with really experienced players like the centre partnership of D'Arcy and O'Driscoll, what I'd find is throughout the game they'd be sending me in calls consistently. And then it would be up to me to execute upon those calls. Whereas if you're playing with a less experienced side or things aren't going well, you can find that the team around you goes quiet. At out-half you don't have as good a view of the game as you would in the 13 channel or as a blinside winger. So you're suddenly trying to make these calls off a whim and that's when things can really go badly for you."

Listen to the full interview via the podcast. 

Ian is supporting the Limited Edition Match Madigan 12 pack of Golden Irish free range eggs! Pick up your pack, choose your all-time Golden Irish Sporting Moment and be in with a chance to win €500 worth of sports equipment for you or your club.

Image: Ireland's Ian Madigan ©INPHO/Billy Stickland