'He's a big, tall guy': Ian Madigan backs Ireland Six Nations bolter

Former Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan has backed a former teammate to go on and impress after his call-up to Andy Farrell’s Guinness Six Nations squad.

Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak is one of a small selection of potential new caps in Farrell’s wider squad, which was named on Wednesday.

Madigan, who played for Leinster, Bordeaux Bègles, Bristol Bears and Ulster, was impressed with Doak after encountering him while playing alongside him at Ravenhill.

“I was delighted for Nathan Doak getting his place in the Six Nations squad. He’s been impressive for Ulster this season and is flourishing.

“Nathan really impressed me as a teenager when I joined the club five years ago now. I remember him speaking up in meetings and that’s one of the great things in rugby. A young person, in what is effectively a business, stepping up and senior players and management stopping and listening. He was making great points as young as he was, on what we should be doing and how the game had moved on.”

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Despite being just 24, Doak doesn’t lack for experience. He’ll bring up his 100th Ulster cap this weekend against Scarlets in Llanelli.

“He’s a deep thinker on the game. He is really finding his feet and he’s taken what he has learnt from a high-quality and experienced nine in John Cooney and implemented that.

“I think the next natural step for him is international rugby. I think he has got the nuts and bolts to flourish in this Six Nations if given the opportunity. He is an excellent box kicker, his game management is excellent, and I think going into camp working with Jamison Gibson-Park will continue to improve his game.”

As a tall halfback at 6 feet 1 inch, Doak does face a challenge in terms of breakdown service, but it’s one Madigan backs him to overcome.

“He’s a big, tall guy and it’s always going to be a work-on for him getting in and around the breakdown as efficiently as possible and if he can add that layer to his game, he has got lots of potential to be a top-class number nine.”

Madigan also previewed this weekend’s URC games, which include Leinster being hosted by provincial rivals Connacht at the Dexcom, which has a newly refurbished 6,500-seater stand to show off.

“It’s incredibly congested at the top of the URC and a win here would launch Leinster into the top four, which is massive when you look ahead at the second half of the season. Connacht are showing their ambition and will want to make a statement at home and continue building the momentum around the club. Even if their results haven’t quite clicked yet, you can see significant improvements under Stuart Lancaster, in pass quality, their carrying game and I think they’ll have a strong start to the second half of the season.”

“The Galway crowd will absolutely lift the team into a new era at their ground. Leinster know they’re in for a tough test in front of Connacht fans in the updated ground.”

“Leinster have been tested early in their season, which hasn’t happened previously, and this could be a good thing. We saw in the Champions Cup last season they had big wins against Glasgow and Harlequins and then they found themselves in a real contest against Northampton Saints and they struggled to navigate over the finish line.

“Tight games like Munster at Thomond Park and against Bayonne, which is one of the hardest places to go in the Top 14, will stand them in good stead as they go into the knockout stages this season. They’re sitting fifth and it’s really congested at the top but with a win at Connacht they can move into the top four this weekend and they’re set up for success in the second half of the season.”