BY ANY MEASURE, it’s been a good year for Jamie Osborne. The versatile Leinster back is in his second season with the province’s senior squad, building on six caps in the 2020/21 campaign with a further 11 appearances this season, including nine starts.
Across those games Osborne has moved smoothly between fullback and the two centre positions, his obvious potential rewarded with a first senior deal, which he signed last month.
Things have perhaps moved a little quicker than Osborne himself might have expected this season, the rescheduling of covid-postponed games during international windows opening up more opportunites to line out for the province than initially anticipated.
“I suppose at the start of the season, we didn’t have many fixtures planned during the Six Nations block,” Osborne says, speaking from Leinster’s Cape Town base in South Africa ahead of Saturday’s URC meeting with the Stormers.
“So to get five or six games in that block was great and now the South African trip as well has been good. I can’t complain. It has been good.”
Good might be an understatement. Osborne, who came through the ranks at Naas RFC, has already caught the eye further afield, with Andy Farrell calling him into the Ireland squad as a development player during the Autumn international window.
“It was great to be in camp for a week in the autumn. It was a great experience to train along all the lads from around the country. At the moment, I’m probably just focused on playing well for Leinster, trying to keep playing as much as I can here. And then we’ll see what happens with other stuff. At the moment, the full focus in on Leinster.
“We had feedback after (Ireland) camp and stuff but I haven’t had much contact (with Andy Farrell) since.
I think it’s just about understanding that the higher up you go, the less time you have on the ball. There’s a bit more pressure on you so it’s about being ready for that and just upping your skill level a bit, everything you do to get better decision-making.”
The 20-year-old has also coped well with the physical side of playing senior rugby, and shown an ability to make good decisions in pressure situations, and Leinster’s current two-game tour of South Africa offers Osborne another perfect opportunity to showcase his talents in a challenging environment.
He played the full 80 minutes of last Saturday’s defeat to the Sharks in Durban, and is expected to feature again against the Stormers this weekend, a fixture that pits first against second in Cape Town.
It hasn’t all been hard work either, the squad taking in a fishing trip earlier in the week and heading out to visit Robben Island yesterday.
“It’s good. As a group, it’s just good to be around each other all the time and getting closer together,” Osborne continues.
“Obviously we knew how tough it was going to be to play here. The atmosphere was really good in Durban and the humidity played a factor in the first-half (against the Sharks), where we were probably blowing a bit at times.
“The second-half was a bit slower but then the rain came which made things difficult as well, the ball was quite slippy. We need to learn that you’re not always going to be able to play the kind of rugby you want. And you need to be able to win that way.”
“They’re (the Stormers) a great attacking side, they have plenty of threats all over the pitch, especially in their back three. We’ll have to be defensively on it all game and it will be a tough test.”
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€85. Rip off Ireland alive and well.
I have a AB’s 2003 World Cup top that I paid €100 for back then.
Still in great condition and I wear it all then time.
Canterbury make good quality and it will last.
@Dave Sherman: Adidas have been making the All Blacks jersey since 1999
@Dave Sherman: did you get it off the African man on the beach in Spain
@Dave Sherman: I’ve ‘France 98′ underpants. 99p. Only worn on super-special occasions.
Why has it taken this long for them to be on sale to the public?
@Seán O’Sullivan:
Potentially market demand wasn’t there?
@Seán O’Sullivan: I have no idea but I’m sure a man somewhere is to blame for it.
@Government Sachs:
Are you sure it is not Leo’s fault :)
@Seán O’Sullivan: wait till you see the price, your sympathy will likely evaporate
Wonderful news.
My wardrobe is now complete.
Suit men with moobs too!!!! Skin tight jerseys ain’t for everyone!!!!!
Are they going to go the way of Dublin GAA and patronize women by offering it in pink?
@Bar Bar Drinks: Not just Dublin who do that (Donegal, Kildare, Mayo, Cork, Meath etc)
Obviously women don’t believe it to be patronising as plenty on show at matches.
@Bar Bar Drinks: Those pink jerseys are everywhere, and they’re awfully popular for something so “patronising”
@Bar Bar Drinks: Every county has a pink ladies jersey.
@Bar Bar Drinks: actually I think Cardiff still have a pink third kit that they play in for breast cancer awareness
What?? Why now instead of before?
P/S Before anyone asks, I’m not interested…..
Let the bandwagon begin
Hopefully comes in more sizes than ‘too tight’
@john Appleseed: or not
Provinces have done it for a while now surprised it took this long
@Dave O Keeffe: no province have men’s jersey as women’s not the jersey the women wear for the province
@Ollie Watson: apologies, you’re correct
Only €85, you could fly anywhere in Europe and back for that. They will be sold out quick. Better get two and one for everyone in the family.
If Irish people weren’t so over weight the jerseys could be cheaper. We’d also have a cheaper health service.
@6ljJQRRU: What a load of rubbish. You pay the same price for an xs size.