With three tries and a man-of-the-match award, it was little wonder that Huw Jones should attract so many of the headlines after firing Scotland to their 31-19 victory over Italy on Saturday. Scotland’s hat-trick hero was hailed as the complete package afterwards by his head coach Gregor Townsend and, on this form, British and Irish Lions recognition may well follow in the summer. Despite the fact Jones was without Sione Tuipulotu next to him at inside centre, he still excelled in the absence of his partner in crime.

But that’s not to say Scotland didn’t miss Tuipulotu. Plainly, they did. It’s something that became increasingly obvious as the match wore on against the Italians. In all fairness, Stafford McDowall didn’t do a whole lot wrong. He was solid, if unspectacular, his best moment coming when he helped bury Paolo Garbisi under the posts to win a five-metre scrum following a kick chase. But, with ball in hand, McDowall didn’t really get himself into the game at any point. Scotland’s attack became increasingly reliant on Finn Russell, given the lack of a second receiver outside him.

Stafford McDowall congratulates Huw Jones after his second try for Scots against Italy. Tom Jordan, right, impressed off the bench and could be a better option than McDowall at 12. Hat-trick hero Huw Jones will have either McDowall or Jordan alongside him against Ireland. That partly explained why Russell was guilty of trying to force things too much at times, especially when he threw a terrible interception straight to Juan Ignacio Brex for a breakaway try early in the second half as Italy fought back to level the match at 19-19.

The absence of Tuipulotu affected Russell far more than it did Jones — and this is the question Gregor Townsend has to address ahead of the blockbuster showdown with Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday. When Tom Jordan came off the bench to replace McDowall on 56 minutes, there was immediately more fluency in Scotland’s attack. Normally a fly-half by trade, Jordan’s presence helped ignite Scotland’s attack, with Jones scoring twice in quick succession after the change had been made.

McDowall didn’t really do anything to nail down the jersey, while Jordan made an immediate and noticeable difference when he came off the bench. There was a feeling that a midfield combination of Jordan and Jones might be too lightweight, hence why McDowall’s greater bulk would be preferred at 12. That may be so. But the dilemma Townsend now faces is that Jordan brings far more to Scotland’s attack than his Glasgow team-mate.

He adds another layer to Scotland’s attack. The presence of a second playmaker outside of Russell was of clear benefit and relieved some of the pressure on the fly-half. The absence of Sione Tuipulotu affected Finn Russell, above, more than it did Huw Jones. Jordan, above left, hails Jones after he scored his third and Scotland's fifth try of the day. Duhan van der Merwe gets to grips with Italy's Capuozzo during Saturday's match.

Getting into an arm wrestle with the likes of Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in midfield isn’t advisable. Scotland have been in that movie countless times before. They know how it ends. On the basis of what Jordan brought to the game on Saturday, and what he showed last autumn, there’s a case that attack might well be the best form of defence. Especially with Jones in electric form, the contest with Aki, Henshaw and Ringrose will be pivotal. The four of them could all be Lions team-mates in the summer.

Admitting that the door could be open for Jordan, Townsend made it clear this is likely to be the closest selection call for the Ireland game. ‘Yes, absolutely, it could be [a selection dilemma],’ said the Scotland head coach. ‘Tom was one of the options to play 12 in this game. But Stafford did really well, was solid, and probably didn’t get the chances that guys outside him got in terms of the ball into space.

‘I think he was walking in for a try off a penalty move in the first half, so that would have been a great start for him. ‘But Rory [Darge] ended up scoring on the next phase. So, yes, we will look at it. That’s one position. I wouldn’t have thought the selection would see too many changes, but we’ll see.’. What could yet go in McDowall’s favour is the fact he came into the team for the game against Ireland in Dublin last year and performed well.

Princess Anne presents the Cuttitta Cup to Scotland co-captains Rory Darge and Finn Russell. Man of the match Huw Jones and his team-mates are all grins after their Murrayfield victory. Head coach Townsend chats with Russell after a win that was far from straightforward. ‘Stafford played really well that day,’ added Townsend. ‘He was very strong defensively and that was an excellent defensive performance.