1
Jamie Osborne handed Ireland debut for 'best in world' clash with Boks
By Josh Raisey
Jamie Osborne is set to make his Ireland debut this Saturday against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.
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.
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.
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.
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
Trending on RugbyPass
2
English club target Liam Williams for Premiership return
3
Rassie Erasmus holds the solution to England's Jamie George conundrum
4
The Springboks have something you don't have
5
Latest Comments
Excellent year. I have enjoyed the Pumas with every match they played. They are truly one of the top tier nations and with more growth they will push hard for top 3 world ranking. They are just a bit up and down like the French team of old.
Go to commentsFunny that I read this after watching last night's game where Matera packed down at openside every signle time. Jaguares also used to play with OS/BS flankers when he was with them. Of course, if he's at 8 or not involved, Pumas could do it the French way and put, let's say, Kremer on the right and Golzalez on the left. You're correct about Matera's tenure at Crusaders where he was mainly used at blindside but also at #8 on occasion as far as I remember. He has the frame and skillset to play whichever back row position he's put at, much like Ardie or Jack Willis or Pocock.
Go to comments