Springboks v Ireland: Farrell backs Osborne's weapon

Following the announcement of Andy Farrell's Ireland squad, we pick our winners and losers from his selection to face the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.

Unsurprisingly, the Irish coach has selected largely the same players from Round 23 who saw action in the Six Nations, with the exception of a few players who have ruled themselves out of the tour.

The head coach also pulled off a rare surprise selection at full-back as Ireland look to upset the Springboks on home turf for only the second time in their history.

Farrell's side are brimming with experience and talent to match the Springboks in what promises to be a powerful encounter.

Winners

Jamie Osborne

Over the last two years, perhaps even longer, Ireland's 23-man squad for a major test match has been fairly straightforward and easy to predict.

There have been a few exceptions to that role, notably Mack Hansen in 2022 and, to a lesser extent, Joe McCarthy in this year's Six Nations.

But until reports emerged on the eve of the squad announcement, few would have predicted Jamie Osborne in the starting line-up, and even fewer would have anticipated him starting at full-back.

With Hugo Keenan pulling out of the tour to play with the sevens team at the Olympics, there was always going to be a change at full-back, with most pundits and fans guessing it would be Jimmy O'Brien or Ciaran Frawley, but Farrell had other ideas.

Osborne certainly deserves his chance after a phenomenal season for Leinster, but he has mainly played in the centres for the Irish province this season, and last started a game for the team at full-back in November 2022.

His cannon shot will be another major weapon for Ireland on the Highveld but it will be a huge test for the rookie in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Garry Ringrose

It has been a difficult season for Garry Ringrose who spent most of his time sidelined through injury but he is now back to full fitness and taking his place among the substitutes.

There was a suggestion, and not just from Rassie Erasmus, that the midfielder would break up the Bundee Aki-Robbie Henshaw combination in the starting XV, but that is not the case as he will look to make an impact in the latter stages of the game.

Having missed all but one of Ireland's Six Nations games – as a substitute against Scotland – and having watched Leinster's Investec Champions Cup from the sidelines and played in the semi-final against the Bulls, it will be great to see the centre-back in action.

Calvin Nash

With O'Brien back in full fitness, Farrell might have been tempted to select the versatile Leinster full-back on the wing in place of Nash, but the Munsterman retains the job and rightly so.

Nash has impressed throughout the Six Nations and really did not deserve to lose his place if the backline is reshuffled to combat some of the Springboks' strengths.

He was one of the Munster stars who shone in South Africa in the URC and will be looking to reproduce that form in the green jersey.

Craig Casey

With Jamison Gibson-Park ruled out of the series through injury, Farrell was always going to make a change at scrum-half, and Craig Casey certainly deserves his chance against a top-flight side.

The 25-year-old takes over the starting jersey after a stellar season with Munster including a rare standout performance against Glasgow Warriors.

The diminutive number nine can provide the same quick service as Gibson-Park, and while Conor Murray would have been a safe choice, Casey more than deserves his chance with a full-strength Ireland side.

Andy Farrell

Despite the setbacks of losing Keenan, Jack Conan and Gibson-Park for the series, Farrell named a strong matchday 23 squad to face the back-to-back world champions.

Osborne's choice is a bit of a risk given he hasn't played the role recently, but he's incredibly talented, while the void left by Conan is filled by James Ryan, meaning they lose little experience. Meanwhile, Casey could potentially do with a big Test start and gets it.

Overall, the setbacks were comfortably made up for and Farrell will be confident he can get the job done against the Boks.

Springboks win and lose against Ireland, Rassie Erasmus backs 'written off veteran' and snubs 'struggling playmaker'

Losers

Ciaran Frawley

The versatile Leinster full-back is quickly becoming a key replacement for Ireland with his ability to fill in at fly-half, centre and full-back.

However, Frawley would have been eager to play a starting role against the Springboks, especially with Keenan making himself unavailable.

He could still play a key role as a substitute in the final minutes of matches.

Nick Timoney

If Farrell had opted for a 6-2 split from the bench, as he did on three occasions in the Six Nations, then one has to assume Nick Timoney would have been on the bench against the Springboks.

However, that was not to be as the Ulsterman's form was overlooked in favour of second-row flanker Ryan Baird as one of the five forwards.

Timoney was incredibly unlucky not to make the 23-man squad along with fellow back-rowers Cormac Izuchukwu and Cian Prendergast.

Oli Jäger

A tough choice for Farrell and scrum coach John Fogarty, with little separation between Finlay Bealham and Oli Jager replacing Tadhg Furlong.

Both players have had solid seasons for their provinces, and really it seems like it came down to judgement, and Jager misses out on this opportunity.

Jimmy O'Brien

Another full-back who was unfortunate not to feature in the match day squad and in particular not to wear the starting full-back jersey as O'Brien was beaten to the number 15 jersey by Osborne.

A hugely talented star, O'Brien has been riddled with injuries and unfortunately this time he is fit and ready to play but still doesn't make it to 23.

Stuart McCloskey

Like the Springboks, Ireland are spoilt for choice at centre with the excellent Stuart McCloskey missing for matchday 23.

Aki and Henshaw shone throughout the Six Nations and have continued that form for their provinces, and while McCloskey impressed with Ulster it wasn't enough to edge either out, while Ringrose also provides an option on the wing.

READ MORE: Bernard Jackman: Springboks' 'stifling tactics' are reason they're not 'praised' as much as All Black greats