SPRINGBOKS ASSISTANT COACH Mzwandile Stick admitted that Ireland’s selection of Jamie Osborne at fullback for tomorrow’s first Test caught them off guard.
Andy Farrell has picked the 22-year-old Leinster man at number 15 for his Ireland debut in tomorrow’s highly-anticipated clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The Springboks had expected Jimmy O’Brien or Jordan Larmour to feature at fullback for Ireland and Stick said they were caught off guard.
“We knew there was the possibility of a surprise there at the back because of the players they’ve lost, Hugo Keenan going to play 7s, so we knew there was probably going to be a couple of surprises out there,” said Stick at the Boks’ team hotel in Pretoria.
“A guy like Jordan [Larmour], I thought could maybe stand a chance to be in that position.
“But Osborne has been doing well for his club. So yeah, it came as a surprise but he deserves it. It shows what he has been doing for his club and to be rewarded for his performance is good for his team.
“I think he is going to bring something fresh and new challenges. He’s got a massive left boot so I think that’s another reason why he’s in that team because playing on the Highveld with that left boot, he will probably kick from tryline to tryline. It came as a surprise but congratulations to him, he deserves that opportunity.”
A little earlier down the road in Johannesburg – Ireland opted not to go to Pretoria for their captain’s run – Irish captain Peter O’Mahony declared his confidence that Osborne is ready for a big test at fullback, where he last started a game for Leinster in November 2022.
O’Mahony believes it is beneficial that Obsorne has been in several Ireland camps in recent years, meaning he is familiar with how they operate.
“He’s a very patient and very understated kid,” said O’Mahony. “Obviously, he’s been delivering incredibly well for Leinster over the past how many seasons. One of the lads presented his jersey to him last night and said it wasn’t a case of if, but when, his cap would come.
“He wants to learn, he’s a top-class professional at an early age. No one in our squad was shocked that he was selected.”
O’Mahony is one of six Munster players in the Irish matchday 23 and was in Loftus in April when the southern province had an excellent outing as they beat the Bulls.
Leinster have had more recent pain in the Pretoria venue but O’Mahony said neither experience is hugely relevant to what’s ahead tomorrow.
“It helps if you’ve been in the stadium before but international is different to URC and there is no point saying it isn’t,” said O’Mahony.
“It’s a different animal, different intensity and you will have a different type of crowd. It’s a big occasion for South Africa coming back here since the World Cup. I imagine it’s going to be an incredible atmosphere for everyone.
“Loftus won’t be comparable to April. It’s the same ground but it will be a different animal.”
The Springboks have welcomed Siya Kolisi back as their skipper after his tough first season with Racing 92 in France.
The Top 14 club’s president, Jacky Lorenzetti, made scathing comments about Kolisi’s physical condition and contribution at the end of Racing’s campaign, but the Springboks leader insisted he is feeling good ahead of the Ireland Test.
“Right now, I feel good, I feel strong,” said Kolisi in Pretoria. “The training has been good, it’s good to be back with the boys. I’m excited because I’m learning from a new coaching staff. The game plan is different and it feels like I’m doing something new again.
“Also, the stuff that makes us good is kept in the system. It feels different when you’re in the Springbok group – the group of people, the coaching staff, and the mentality.
“The purpose part of things is something South Africans take for granted but once you go back home or go to another country, the reasons you play for are what I miss most about home.”
Looking forward to what should be a cracker Sunday. Very hard to call it. Rebels abú.
@Nollaig Elliot: Hoping it’s a cracker too Nollaig but in saying that I’d take a full game & a Déise win too…..
Déise abú!
@Nick McCartan: *dull
Fairly confident rebels,stick to whatever game plan yere given,up to now it’s worked,fab team,best in year’s,we need Liam to come home to he banks!
@billy Dorney:
Are you coming up to the capital to watch it billy?Going to be a great game.If De Burca is cleared tonight i give Waterford a great chance.If he doesn’t i fancy Cork by 4-6 points.
@mark kenny: Rubbish Mark. Whether he plays or not, it’s the system that Waterford play will do for them. Sweeper system only works if your opposition pumps high ball brainlessly in on top of the full forward line. Cork don’t.
That said, I hope he does play. Couldn’t listen to more of the “what ifs/we were robbed” excuses if Waterford lose w/out him.
@MK76:
A system that has got within a puck of a ball of reaching last years All Ireland final where they were very very unlucky not to hold on in drawn game.And De Burca plays the sweeper role better than anyone.I don’t like the sweeper system myself but when Waterford played Cork in Thurles earlier this year Derek McGrath went without a sweeper and he felt Waterford were far too open and he admitted himself it didn’t work.De Burca,maybe apart from Austin Gleeson,would be a massive loss.
@mark kenny:
* would be Waterford’s biggest loss.
@mark kenny: Here’s the thing though Mark. Waterford didn’t make the final and even if you had, Tipp were by far the best team in the country last year. No one would have touched them.
Agree either player would be a big loss and genuinely hope De Burca plays, but what is a sweeper going to do if there is fast, low, diagonal ball played in, somewhere between the half and full forward line?
Whatever happens, I think it will be a close game, with only a few scores between them.
@mark kenny: city match v bray sat
@mark kenny: mark think you’re right
@mark kenny: Nash with his Uber accurate passing,our backlines really aggressive tackling,and overall will to bring Liam back to cork(where he belongs)cork can win
@MK76:
If the ball is played in pinpoint it is very hard for even a sweeper to counteract but what if Cork’s ball into the inside forwards is even a little off this time?Everything has gone swimmingly for Cork so far.What if a few things start to go against Cork?A few bad wides,dodgy refereeing decisions and Cork find themselves behind with Waterford hurling well?Will Cork have the answers?They were leading all the time v Clare and on top in second half v Waterford.I’d be interested to see Cork’s reaction if they were behind with 15 minutes to go.
If Waterford play with extra man back the Cork forwards wont get much space and will need pinpoint,accurate balls in but Nash will be able to pick out a free defender all day long to launch it into the forwards.It’s going to be interesting.
@mark kenny: To be fair, Cork have come under the pump in all 3 games thus far and in each occasion have responded very well, especially to goals. Interestingly, no all of their forwards have fired as a unit on the same day, so take your point on things going wrong, but what if they really click as a unit?
Like I said, it’s too close to call, with the money on the game unable to separate them. I think it will be a tense and nervous game, but if the Cork forwards are on song, I favour Cork.
@MK76:
Cork 8/11 favourites.Very rarely,if ever,do six forwards click on the same day.There will always be one or two that underperform for whatever reason.Waterford have a bit more Croke Park experience in recent years and i wonder if that will have any effect on some of these young Cork lads?I respect your opinion but i’m going with my gut instinct on this one ; De Burca plays its 50/50,he doesn’t and the bookies have it about right at 8/11 for Cork.
@mark kenny: Great stuff mark. You sound exactly like shefflin cyril and sheedy. Each one of corks wins has been explained away all year. Tipp had trouble in the camp and were undercooked. Waterford lack of games cost them. If Clare had played the way they played for 15 mins in the second half they would have won. Ive even read during the week that cork only beat waterford in the league because waterford abandoned their game plan.
Derek mcgrath is trying his best to make waterford underdogs but i think kingston will be delighted with the excuses. Cork are miles ahead of the curve already this year and even a loss will still add up to a decent season for them. Its all or nothing for waterford.
@mark kenny: nah Mark cork have the hurling craft,so when Liam comes home you’ll be one of the first to congratulate us? ceasefire on between us , hopefully it’ll hold!
@billy Dorney:
Course i would.I congratulate all deserving winners.Even the blood and bandage ha!
@damien o brien:
I never made any excuses for any of Cork’s wins.All won fair and square playing a nice brand of hurling so i don’t know where your going comparing me to Shefflin,Sheedy or Farrell.I have my own two eyes to make up my mind.
@billy Dorney:
The usual cork cocky blarney…..god given Devine right to win
@billy Dorney:
Yeah it’s been 11 long long years for you….