Paddy Jackson’s “assured” display further boosts Ireland’s fly-half competition, according to head coach Joe Schmidt.

The 21-year-old playmaker led Ireland’s line in Saturday’s 40-9 victory over Samoa to open the autumn international series.

Jonathan Sexton’s hip-injury absence led to a straight fight between Jackson and Ian Madigan for the number 10 shirt.

Schmidt had explained in the build-up how Madigan’s limited club opportunities this term proved a hindrance, with Kiwi Jimmy Gopperth impressing for the province.

And after Ireland’s five-try triumph against the Samoans, the new head coach felt vindicated in handing the form club man the back-line reins.

“I thought Paddy was really assured,” said Schmidt.

“Our kicking out of the hand wasn’t as good as it could have been at times. We’ll have to kick better out of hand across the board against Australia.

“But Paddy did marshal everyone really well and it was an assured performance from Paddy.

“It’s not easy to come into that mix and control things like that, but I think we saw the evidence of his club form helping him settle.”

Hoping for good news this week on openside flanker Chris Henry, Schmidt confirmed the loose forward suffered a hamstring problem at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

“It’s really disappointing for him to be literally hamstrung. He tried to play through it, but it was determined that it wasn’t something he could play on with.”

Until his injury Henry had looked sharp at the breakdown, an area that left Schmidt relatively pleased.

But the coach warned that the contact area will be another facet Ireland must sharpen in time for Australia’s visit.

He said: “I think we could argue six to eight turnovers were forced by us on the ground.

“Others we were able to capitalise on slightly loose play from them, but we can probably still be reasonably pleased with that work.”