Former Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson has singled out the pace and tempo that Jamison Gibson-Park brings to the No 9 role for Ireland.
Gibson-Park replaced Conor Murray at scrum-half for the game against South Africa, with Murray seeing some action late on in an impressive cameo that saw him win a big turnover as Andy Farrell's side edged out the Springboks.
Did Murray do enough to win back a starting place from the off when Ireland face Scotland on Saturday? It's a crucial game in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup, with both sides looking to nail down a quarter-final berth.
On the RTÉ Rugby World Cup Podcast, James Downey and Lawson, in looking ahead to the Stade de France clash, analysed Ireland's choices at scrum-half.
Downey said he'd favour the same selection choices that were made for the South Africa encounter.
"I would like to see Jamison Gibson-Park start again at No 9 and then for Conor Murray to come on again," he said.
"If we need that level head to control things at the head, Conor knows what he wants to do in that pivotal position.
"I don't think you can make too many changes overall, you have to go strong again. It's knockout football and you have to go as strong as you can."
Lawson, who made 31 appearances for Scotland, as an opposing fan, would prefer to see Murray in from the start, but is also well aware of the telling effect he can make to influence things when introduced.
Expanding on this, he outlined: "In bringing Conor Murray on, in maintaining the tempo for the final 20 minutes or coming in to put the game to bed, I think he's a better player in that regard and has so much experience.
"I would prefer to see Murray's name on the starting teamsheet, albeit Jamison Gibson-Park is one of those scrum-halves that can sometimes get a little bit isolated defensively off set-piece scrums, in that you're the first defender out.
"However, if you go down his channel and he does make the tackle, you've got back-rowers scavenging and climbing over you. As ever, players have massive assets and massive abilities; you are looking to identify a tiny chink in the armoury that you could impose."
Lawson could not help but admire what Gibson-Park brings to things from the get-go.
"My sense with Jamison is that if you are playing against a side with him at 9, he's got the basics: a good kicking game and passing game. But the one thing that jumps for me is his ability to bring tempo and pace to things.
"From a Scotland perspective, Ireland won't look to come out and batter Scotland, they are sharper than that, are more creative than that. I understand that winning collisions and building momentum and gainline is a fundemental of any team but the pace and tempo that he brings to an attacking team is massive. That is what sets Gibson-Park apart."
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