Ireland hooker Rory Best is backing Ulster teammate Paddy Jackson to become one of the world’s top players having endured a mixed debut RBS 6 Nations.
The 21-year-old fly-half made his Test debut in the 12-8 defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield, missing two penalties and a conversion.
But the young stand-off was still selected for Ireland’s final two matches – against France and Italy – and kicked five penalties in Rome despite his country’s 22-15 defeat at Stadio Olimpico on the final day of the 2013 RBS 6 Nations.
Jackson is now back in Pro12 action for Ulster, and Best is predicting a bright future for Jackson at international level.
“Jacko has probably had more ups and downs in his short international career than most experience,” the 30-year-old told the Belfast Newsletter. “But he just meanders through it and that comes with being one of the top players.
“If you’re going to become one of the world’s top players you have to go through a bit of adversity and Jacko has gone through a bit, but the key thing for me is his personality shows he can deal with it and he just moves on and he is better the next week for it.
“He’s a class act and we take massive confidence when he is playing with us.”
