He may have been left out of Johnson’s revised elite squad for this month’s RBS 6 Nations but Geraghty contributed 12 points for Stuart Lancaster’s Saxons, including a try, as England ran out 17-13 winners against Ireland.

While England’s second-string was short of experience, Ireland started with ten full internationals in their ranks but a mature performance from Geraghty ensured it was Lancaster’s men that edged the contest.

"Shane's contribution was first class," said Lancaster, whose squad now goes on to face Italy ‘A’ in Treviso next Sunday.

"He was always going to start at 10 in this game. He is someone whose progress I have followed closely, and I think he has grown up a lot, both as a player and as a person.

"He has got self-confidence, and I am really pleased for him.

"He is in a very competitive position at 10. Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood are not poor players and Shane needs to build his overall game.

"But he has got that innate ability to develop and finish things when gaps open up."