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Andy Farrell backs versatile Jamie Osborne who is ‘not coming in as that nervous kid’

Leinster's Jamie Osborne is tackled by Wenceslas Lauret and Gael Fickou of Racing 92 during their Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round 4 clash at Aviva Stadium. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Expand
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Leinster's Jamie Osborne is tackled by Wenceslas Lauret and Gael Fickou of Racing 92 during their Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round 4 clash at Aviva Stadium. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Leinster's Jamie Osborne is tackled by Wenceslas Lauret and Gael Fickou of Racing 92 during their Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round 4 clash at Aviva Stadium. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Jamie Osborne

Jamie Osborne

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Leinster's Jamie Osborne is tackled by Wenceslas Lauret and Gael Fickou of Racing 92 during their Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round 4 clash at Aviva Stadium. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has backed Jamie Osborne to step up if called upon to make his Test debut in Saturday’s Six Nations opener in Cardiff.

Farrell, who has drafted in uncapped Ulster hooker Tom Stewart as injury cover for Rónan Kelleher (hamstring), is weighing up his options at inside centre, with Wales boss Warren Gatland facing a similar dilemma.

As Robbie Henshaw continues to be sidelined with a wrist issue, Osborne (21) is vying with Bundee Aki and Stuart McCloskey to wear the No 12 jersey against Wales.

“I wouldn’t be picking someone that I couldn’t trust, if and when needed,” Farrell said. “But having said that, we’ll see how people handle the pressure within camp because sometimes that’s just as fierce as it is on a match day.

“You look at him in terms of playing different positions. He’s played really well on the wing, he’s played in both centre positions and he’s grown up as a full-back. It’s good for him because he’ s been in our squad quite a few times now, so he’s not coming in as that nervous kid.

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“He’s been able to be himself and what’s been pretty impressive with that experience that he has had is that he’s made the best use of that when he’s been given the opportunity, with Robbie being injured. He’s grabbed his chance, hasn’t he?”

Considering Ireland’s Six Nations squad was always going to have a largely settled look to it, one of the more noticeable aspects of Farrell’s selection was his decision not to include any development players.

That’s not to say young players won’t filter in and out of camp over the next couple of months, but with the provinces in URC action last weekend, Farrell felt they were better off getting game-time rather than travel to Portugal with Ireland.

Farrell’s use of development players has been hugely successful, as the likes of Osborne and Cian Prendergast can attest to.

“Well, obviously we can do that,” Farrell said with regard to picking development players.

“We’re connected as far as the four provinces are concerned and obviously there’ll be some bangs and bruises and we’ll need a bit of help.

“People might drop out of form, some people might show that they warrant coming back in. We’ve always been open to that.”

Jordan Larmour doesn’t exactly fit the ‘development’ category, but after a tough run of injuries, he has found his path blocked by Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien, both of whom have really stepped up in his absence.

However, Larmour (25) has been in good form with Leinster lately, and as he targets a return to the Test arena, the winger does so with the full backing of the Ireland head coach.

“It’s great to see him back, isn’t it,” Farrell said. “He’s certainly a character we’ve missed around the place. If you could have 36 players of one type of personality, you’d probably want 36 Jordans.

“He’s such a great guy to work with. He’s so positive, so aware of himself, such a good team-mate etc. It’s great to see him back fully fit, and playing some pretty good rugby.

“I think of the break he made (against Racing 92) from the halfway line when Ross threw him the ball. It takes something special of an athlete to do what Jordan did. I know what type of talent he is and what he’s got in the locker, but having said that, he knows what’s happened over the last couple of years as well.

“He knows that the competition’s grown in that department with Mack playing so well and James Lowe playing so well in that position.”

“Then you’re hoping that Jacob Stockdale starts to fight and wants to get back to where he was. So it’s all good.”

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