Sexton started the first two RBS 6 Nations matches before Declan Kidney turned to Ronan O’Gara for the clash with Scotland and was rewarded with a man-of-the-match performance in the 21-18 victory.

Ahead of their trip to the Millennium Stadium, Wales fly-half Stephen Jones has already stated that Warren Gatland will alter his tactics to accommodate whoever is picked at 10.

But O’Driscoll says the intense competition for starting berths can only be a good thing for Irish rugby.

He said: “I think Jonathan’s done really well in the two previous games and he’ll have thought himself very unfortunate to have missed out on this one.

“But that’s the calibre of two really good 10s who are pushing each other to the best of their ability and bringing the best out in one another.

“ROG steered us really well for whatever it was – 60, 65 minutes. And then Sexto came on, defended extremely well, which was needed from him, and did some simple things really well.

“It was a good performance from both of them.”