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Jamie Osborne handed Ireland debut for 'best in world' clash with Boks

Jamie Osborne during Leinster Rugby squad training at UCD in Dublin. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Jamie Osborne is set to make his Ireland debut this Saturday against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.

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The 22-year-old Leinster star will start at fullback in Pretoria, filling the void left by his club teammate Hugo Keenan, who is pursuing an Olympic gold medal with the Ireland Sevens team currently.

Osborne is the only debutant in what is otherwise an experienced team named by Andy Farrell to take on the world champions.

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      Munster wing Calvin Nash is the only other player with fewer than ten caps in the starting XV, though replacement fly-half Ciaran Frawley does too.

      In what is close to the team that won the Six Nations earlier this year, Craig Casey has got the not to start in the No.9 jersey in place of the injured Jamison Gibson-Park, who has been ruled out of this series with a hamstring injury.

      Fixture
      Internationals
      South Africa
      27 - 20
      Full-time
      Ireland
      All Stats and Data

      South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus mentioned that Ireland “have a few new players in their ranks this year” when naming his Springboks side earlier this week, but Farrell has turned to many stalwarts in green for this clash.

      The squad contains three centurions and a further eight players with over 50 caps, many of whom featured in Ireland’s pool stage victory over South Africa at the World Cup last year- the last time the Boks tasted defeat.

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      Ireland XV
      15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster)*
      14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(6)
      13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(72)
      12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(56)
      11. James Lowe (Leinster)(31)
      10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(14)
      9. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster)(14)
      1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(64)
      2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(26)
      3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(76)
      4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(10)
      5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(50)
      6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(105)
      7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(62)
      8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(41)

      Replacements
      16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(31)
      17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(129)
      18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(40)
      19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)(62)
      20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(20)
      21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(116)
      22. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(4)
      23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(58)
      *Denotes uncapped

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      Comments

      5 Comments
      B
      Barry 383 days ago

      Exciting squad and a great chance for Casey.


      The 9/10 axis could be very interesting with both teams. Boks’ have the test experience and Ireland’s have the better age profile and experience of regular playing at club level.


      Baptism of fire for Osborne. Thought Henshaw might get the nod at 15 if only to allow Ringrose to start in the centre.

      B
      Blanco 383 days ago

      Didn’t bother reading after “Best in World” click bait title. Its a copy from an Irish Times article more or less anyway.

      F
      Flankly 383 days ago

      “Craig Casey has got the not to start in the No.9 jersey”


      Looks like Murray “got the not”, whereas Casey got the nod.


      Interesting call on fullback. That will certainly get some attention from the SA coaching team over the next 24 hours.

      B
      Blanco 383 days ago

      There won’t be as much space as to kick in behind as with Leinster. Osborne is a decent player. Would have preferred Ringrose starting for his organizational capabilities. Casey deserves his chance. Tough one though. He will be advised NOT to try sniping runs unless its clear.

      J
      JoeyFresh62 383 days ago

      Feels like a tough assignment without JGP doesn’t it… Boks usually play close matches of late though.

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      P
      PL 56 minutes ago
      Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

      I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

      Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


      Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


      The officiating of last feet is non existent

      The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

      A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


      Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

      Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


      About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

      Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


      The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


      I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


      The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

      Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

      Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

      My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


      Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


      Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

      Last feet to last feet + 1 m


      When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


      As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


      Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

      25 were scrum for dissent


      Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


      All the s.ite would disappear


      The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


      Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

      1 Go to comments
      S
      Soliloquin 2 hours ago
      Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

      For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

      His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

      But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

      And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


      I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

      For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

      But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


      As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

      Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


      And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

      So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

      France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

      237 Go to comments
      S
      Soliloquin 2 hours ago
      Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

      Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

      But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

      He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

      Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

      He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

      He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


      I really hope that:

      -Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

      -Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

      -Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

      237 Go to comments
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