In the upcoming Test match against South Africa this Saturday at Loftus Versfeld (scheduled for 4pm Irish time), coach Andy Farrell for the Ireland team has decided to give Jamie Osborne, a budding Leinster back, his inaugural Test match appearance. With Hugo Keenan currently training with the Ireland Sevens in preparation for the Paris Olympics, the responsibility of wearing the number 15 jersey falls on the 22-year-old Osborne.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Craig Casey has secured the scrumhalf’s starting position for his fifth start, earning his 15th cap in the process. Conor Murray, who was benched for four out of five Six Nations games, will be among the replacements. Casey, who was previously the starter for the match against Italy, plays in a style similar to the injured Jamison Gibson-Park, marked by intense energy and enthusiasm.
In terms of the midfield partnership, Robbie Henshaw has been chosen over Garry Ringrose to join Bundee Aki, although Ringrose is still included among the substitutes. Centre or wing player Osborne, who has not played as a fullback since the match against the Glasgow Warriors for Leinster in November 2022, will be playing with fellow uncapped players Cormac Izuchukwu and Sam Prendergast. Originating from Naas, Osborne, a physical presence on the field with a strong left foot and towering height, is one of five brothers, with one, Andrew, being part of the Leinster academy.
The absence of Keenan and the injured Gibson-Park necessitated a reshuffling of the team. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, Jack Conan missed the tour. On a positive note, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan are back in the game after recovering from previous injuries, and will participate in the matchday 23.
Osborne won the role beating out fellow players Jimmy O’Brien, Ciarán Frawley, who was the fullback against Wales, and Jordan Larmour who held the number 15 jersey against Scotland. Calvin Nash, who played all the Five Six Nations games, will start, as Ireland’s try scorer, Mack Hansen is injured. Farrell’s preferred centre pair continues to be Aki and Henshaw for the upcoming game on Saturday.
In the team led by Irish skipper Peter O’Mahony, who will take on the role of blindside flanker, Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne will remain as second row players. The bench has been divided in a typical 5-3 split by Farrell, with Ryan and Ryan Baird acting as back five reserves, while Murray, Ciarán Frawley, and Ringrose will be on hand to bolster the backline. The team playing against South Africa includes J Osborne (Leinster), C Nash (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht), and J Lowe (Leinster). In addition, the squad features J Crowley (Munster), C Casey (Munster), A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), and T Furlong (Leinster). The second-row is filled by T Beirne (Munster) and J McCarthy (Leinster), with P O’Mahony (Munster, captain), J van der Flier (Leinster), and C Doris (Leinster) forming the rest of the team. Filling the reserve role are R Kelleher (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), F Bealham (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), R Baird (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), and G Ringrose (Leinster).