Head coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team for Saturday’s Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney (11:10 BST).
Here is what Farrell said about some of his key selection calls.
On Jamie Osborne’s switch to the left wing: “Obviously, he’s been playing really well. He’s a bloody good rugby player in whatever position he’s playing in.
“With how we want to play the game with having our wingers involved, he’s a smart player. He gets that straightaway. Pretty good in the air, good left boot, that all comes into the pot.”
On starting brothers Sam and Cian Prendgerast: “Cian has come a long way in the past 12 months. The learnings he took from the autumn into the start of the Six Nations and how that progressed, I think he’s been outstanding for Connacht.
“Sam, the way he’s handled the last month is a credit to him in regards to taking responsibility for the shirt and his chance to build through the last few games and finish with a big performance in the final (for Leinster), so he’s earned the right.”
On whether Osborne could have a future at 10: “Whoever is playing full-back, they would step up and do that because we don’t want our 10s to just be a solid linchpin in the middle of the field that everything goes through, we want to be interchangeable.
“He steps up and does that in training, as does Hugo (Keenan) and Frawls (Ciaran Frawley).”
On Osborne’s versatility possibly hindering his long-term development: “I understand the point. As far as we’re concerned, his versatility is gold to us. He’s been himself no matter where he plays. Who knows what will happen down the line, how the jigsaw moves around a little bit.”
