'He's got presence' - Farrell backs debutant Osborne

Ireland caput coach Andy Farrell has backed Jamie Osborne aft handing nan Leinster subordinate a astonishment debut astatine full-back for Saturday's Test against world champions South Africa.

Osborne, 22, was fixed nan motion successful nan 15 jersey contempt having chiefly played centre for Leinster.

But while Farrell has Jimmy O'Brien, Jordan Larmour and Jacob Stockdale arsenic full-back options pinch Test experience, he says giving Osborne a run-out has been "in nan pipeline for a while".

"When Jamie’s been successful nan squad connected galore occasions, he’s ever filled successful for america successful each sorts of different positions, surely astatine full-back arsenic good arsenic centre," Farrell told reporters successful Johannesburg aft naming his squad connected Thursday.

"Anyone who knows Jamie arsenic a rugby subordinate and his inheritance arsenic a inferior coming through, a batch of it’s been successful nan 15 jersey."

Osborne has large boots to capable pinch first-choice Hugo Keenan - who is preparing for nan Olympics pinch Ireland's sevens squad - having starred nether Farrell successful caller years.

The debutant, who has started conscionable 2 games for Leinster astatine full-back, will beryllium tested astatine altitude astatine Loftus Versfeld Stadium connected Saturday, pinch South Africa possessing immoderate world-class kickers.

But Farrell is intelligibly assured successful Osborne arsenic he reeled disconnected nan player's attributes.

"His skillset is very absorbing for america to see, really we usage nan skillset that he’s got," added nan Englishman.

"He’s evidently going to adhd to our performance. From what I’ve seen lately successful nan backmost extremity of nan URC [United Rugby Championship] play is that whenever he plays, he’s sewage presence, it doesn’t matter what position he plays.

"He suits nan measurement we play, he’s bright, he gets himself connected nan shot a batch successful an organising way. His connection is bully and he’s accurate. He’s evidently sewage nice, soft hands and tin play that measurement but besides he tin deed a statement arsenic well.

"To adhd to that, he’s deceptively very quick, bully successful nan air, very diversion and he’s sewage a large near footwear connected him arsenic well."

Farrell's different large action telephone saw him opt to commencement Craig Casey astatine scrum-half pinch nan knowledgeable Conor Murray connected nan bench.

Casey has 14 caps but this will beryllium by acold nan biggest crippled nan 25-year-old has started.

"He’ll spot this arsenic his large opportunity," said Farrell.

"He deserves it, he deserves nan situation to commencement a Test lucifer for illustration this and we’re looking guardant to seeing really he drives nan squad forward."

Farrell besides said he was ne'er minded to guidelines successful Keenan's measurement pinch nan Leinster man opting to skip nan circuit arsenic he chases an Olympic badge successful sevens.

"I said to Hugo rather a bit," said Farrell.

"There’s nary measurement that if somebody’s sewage a dream for illustration that - now, don’t get maine wrong, if 10 of them had a dream, there’s a different determination to beryllium had!

"But erstwhile it was highlighted from nan Sevens guidance that he was successful their thinking, past nan mobility goes to Hugo. If that was a dream of his to do that, there’s nary measurement I would guidelines successful his way."