His stuttering display saw the duties handed over to Halfpenny in the second half and the Cardiff Blues wing duly stole the plaudits with a last-gasp penalty to win it.

With the visit of Scotland to the Millennium Stadium on Sunday Priestland believes teammate Halfpenny is in the box seat to take charge of the kicking tee.

However despite his Irish nightmare, the 25-year-old is just as forthright in declaring his desire to get back in the saddle.

“I'd like to kick against Scotland,” he said. “But the way Leigh has kicked it's going to be hard for me to get it back off him. I just have to forget what happened last weekend and if I do get another opportunity I have to take it. If not I'll just try to concentrate on every other aspect of the game.”

Warren Gatland has since tried to claim the blame for Priestland’s troubles, suggesting the pre-game injury doubts about the fly-half should have seen him removed from the kicking limelight.

But Priestland has been quick to counter his Kiwi coach and dismiss suggestions of inevitable rustiness.

“I’ve kicked for long enough now that one or two weeks off shouldn’t really make that much difference,” he added.

“It was poor on my behalf – nobody else’s fault. I rushed the one in front of the posts. I hit the first one OK, but that one wasn’t bad luck.”