Frankie Sheahan believes Ireland need to go with Leinster’s Ian Madigan as back up for Ronan O'Gara. Declan Kidney left Madigan out of his initial squad but has since added the Leinster kicker, with an almost vociferous objection from fans and media filling the void between the two moments. Newstalk Breakfast’s Oisin Langan spoke to former Ireland international Frankie Sheahan this morning and asked Sheahan who should play at number ten. If we can presume Kidney will go with O’Gara from the start, who should be on the bench? Is Madigan simply in the squad as injury cover or has he got a real chance of seeing some action at Murrayfield?

With five big names missing – Cian Healy, Gordon D’Arcy, Mike McCarthy, Johnny Sexton and Simon Zebo – Ireland are forced into giving some fringe players Six Nations action for their game against Scotland on Sunday. The absence drawing the most debate is Johnny Sexton and the subject of his replacement at fly half has seen Declan Kidney endure yet more criticism.

Ronan O’Gara has long been the go to man when Sexton wasn’t available, but performances, both for Ireland and Munster, have led to calls for Kidney to move on without the veteran kicker and blood Leinster’s Ian Madigan or Ulster’s Paddy Jackson as the process to find a long term understudy to Sexton increases in importance.

Image: Leinster's Ian Madigan ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan