Ireland's record points-scorer was recalled to the fly-half role for the Scotland clash when British Lion O'Gara withdrew through injury and he turned back the clock in sensational fashion.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who plans to name his next team on Wednesday, could be facing a selection dilemma if his first-choice number 10 has by then recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in the Celtic League final.

"We've a great luxury at the moment to have two great fly-halves in Ronan O'Gara and David Humphreys," said O'Sullivan.

The form of 31-year-old Humphreys, who ran the show at Murrayfield ought to ensure he starts in Rome regardless of the fitness of O'Gara but the modest Ulsterman is not so sure.

"I honestly haven't considered that," he said. "He's been the man in possession, he's been playing well. I'm just delighted that I've put in a performance that's compared to some of his."

Despite his 26-point haul, which included eight goals from nine attempts, Humphreys was quick to praise the rest of the Irish team for the way they performed against the Scots.

"Thankfully a few went over," he said. "But the game was won by the pack, it always is at this level. The front five were outstanding and it made it easy for the backs.

"I was just delighted that we won, that was the main thing. We were under a lot of pressure going into the game because we hadn't won there for a while.

"It was my third start there and the first time I've won, so it's been a long time coming."

Ireland Squad: S Byrne (Leinster/Blackrock College), R Corrigan (Leinster/Greystones), V Costello (Leinster/St Mary's College), L Cullen (Leinster/Blackrock College), A Foley (Munster/Shannon), K Gleeson (Leinster/St Mary's College), J Hayes (Munster/Shannon), M Horan (Munster/Shannon), G Longwell (Ulster/Ballymena), M O'Kelly (Leinster/St Mary's College), A Quinlan (Munster/Shannon), F Sheahan (Munster/Cork Constitution); G Dempsey (Leinster/Terenure College), G Easterby (Llanelli), D Hickie (Leinster/St Mary's College), R Henderson (Munster /Young Munster), D Humphreys (Ulster/Dungannon), K Maggs (Bath), G Murphy (Leicester), R O'Gara (Munster/Cork Constitution), B O'Driscoll (Leinster/Blackrock College, capt) P Stringer (Munster/Shannon).
Additional player - J Kelly (Munster/Cork Constitution).