Jamie Osborne to make Ireland debut at full-back against South Africa

Michael Bolton

Jamie Osborne will make his debut for Ireland at full-back against the world champions South Africa on Saturday.

Osborne has impressed at centre for Leinster this season, and started the Champions Cup final defeat to Toulouse.

However, with Hugo Keenan out due to his participation in the Olympics with the Sevens team, it is Osbourne who is picked at 15.

He has been picked ahead of the likes of Jimmy O'Brien, Jordan Larmour and Ciarán Frawley.

Craig Casey has won the battle ahead of Conor Murray to start at scrum-half, and will partner his Munster teammate Jack Crowley.

Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw will start at centre, with Garry Ringrose on the bench.

Peter O'Mahony will captain the team, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne in the second-row.

Andy Farrell has resisted the temptation to go with a 6/2 split among the replacements, with Ciarán Frawley to provide the cover at fly-half.

The game kicks off at 4pm on Saturday at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.

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

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