Osborne to make Ireland debut against Springboks

Ireland caput coach Andy Farrell has named uncapped Jamie Osborne to commencement astatine full-back against South Africa successful Pretoria connected Saturday (16:00 BST).

The 22-year-old Leinster subordinate fills nan position usually occupied by his nine team-mate Hugo Keenan, who is presently preparing for nan Paris Olympics pinch Ireland's sevens side.

Jimmy O'Brien had been expected to get nan motion astatine full-back for nan opener of nan two-Test bid against nan back-to-back world champions, while squad members Jordan Larmour, Ciaran Frawley and Jacob Stockdale each person world acquisition successful nan position.

Osborne has chiefly played astatine centre for his province, past starting a elder crippled astatine full-back successful November 2022.

In nan different large action call, Craig Casey has been chosen to return nan spot of nan injured Jamison Gibson-Park astatine scrum-half.

The 25-year-old Munster subordinate has 14 caps for nan side, but only 4 of those person travel successful starts.

The knowledgeable Conor Murray has been named among nan replacements for nan Test astatine Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Elsewhere, Robbie Henshaw is selected up of Garry Ringrose to partner Bundee Aki successful midfield, while Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy will proceed their business successful nan 2nd row.

Captain Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris shape a familiar-looking backmost row, pinch James Lowe and Calvin Nash connected nan wings.

In summation to Keenan, helping Mack Hansen - who scored tries against South Africa successful 2022 and 2023 - is missing from nan circuit arsenic he recovers from a enarthrosis injury.

Ireland: J Osborne; C Nash, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe; J Crowley, C Casey; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; T Beirne, J McCarthy; P O’Mahony (capt), J van der Flier, C Doris.

Replacements: R Kelleher, C Healy, F Bealham, J Ryan, R Baird, C Murray, C Frawley, G Ringrose.