Paddy Jackson is set to make his Ireland debut against Scotland this weekend after being selected ahead of veteran five-eighth Ronan O’Gara for the Six Nations match at Murrayfield.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney had to find a new starting No.10 after first-choice fly-half Jonathan Sexton suffered a hamstring injury during the 12-6 defeat by England last time out at Lansdowne Road earlier this month.

But rather than recall O’Gara, Ireland’s most-capped player with 127 Tests behind him and the man who came off the bench to replace Sexton against England, Kidney sprang one of the biggest surprises of his five-year reign as national coach on Wednesday by opting to start Ulster’s Jackson in Edinburgh.

O’Gara, 36 next month, was on the bench.

“Paddy’s inclusion was a challenge given the stature of Ronan O’Gara, but I think Paddy deserves a go in this one,” Kidney said.

Ireland, one of four teams along with Scotland boasting one victory and one defeat after two rounds, need to win at Murrayfield to maintain their hopes of winning the Six Nations title.

Scotland, who beat Italy 34-10 at Murrayfield in the second round, made just one change to their starting side earlier Wednesday when prop Geoff Cross was recalled in place of Euan Murray, whose Christian beliefs mean he refuses to play on Sundays.

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Craig Gilroy, Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Marshall, Keith Earls; Paddy Jackson, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip (capt), Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony; Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Tom Court. Res: Sean Cronin, David Kilcoyne, Declan Fitzpatrick, Devin Toner, Iain Henderson, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Luke Fitzgerald.