Osborne 'learned a lot' during Irish camp

GREAT EXPERIENCE: Jamie Osborne enjoyed his time in Irish camp. Pic: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Given how close he got to being part of Ireland’s World Cup campaign, it may come as a surprise to learn Leinster’s Jamie Osborne looks on his time in Andy Farrell’s pre-tournament camp entirely in a positive light.

That the versatile back will still be uncapped going into next year’s Six Nations, despite being in camp for both last season’s championship and this summer’s World Cup training squad only fills the 21-year-old with optimism he can return to Ireland duty when the head coach next sits down to select his playing group.

That confidence has been boosted by his time in training with the likes of Leinster team-mates Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose and fellow midfielders Bundee Aki and Stuart McCloskey from June to August but it only dawned on Osborne this week that his inclusion in Farrell’s wider training squad was an acknowledgement by the Ireland boss that he had considered the adaptable centre ready for Test rugby.

Farrell had said exactly that ahead of last January’s Six Nations opener against Wales after Osborne’s call into the championship squad and the player was still none the wiser when he was named in Ireland’s 42-man World Cup training panel in June.

“I actually didn’t really know he said that to be honest,” Osborne admitted this week. “When we went into camp first, we all had one-on-ones with Andy and he spoke to us and I suppose from then, what he’s looking for and you know that he probably has confidence in you.

“And I was just trying to do my best in training, learn from the lads like Gary, Bundee, Robbie and Stu and hopefully force my way in to get a few opportunities and obviously that didn’t end up happening but I learned a lot and really enjoyed the experience.

“I picked up an injury in the first week and didn’t really train until the Portugal week. So I missed a good chunk of the pre-season and then I kind of felt I was on the backfoot then, so I didn’t really think I would be in with too much of a chance after that but … at the start I probably thought maybe but yeah…” 

The cut came in mid-August when Osborne was one of five players alongside Caolin Blade, Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash and Kieran Treadwell to be sent back to their provinces, three days out from the warm-up Test at home to England.

“Faz chatted to all the lads he released and made sure they knew that we were all on standby and kept up with the Irish programmes and stuff when we got back to Leinster.” 

Osborne was involved in all three of Leinster’s pre-season matches, against Munster, Ulster and Castres, but it was not until last Saturday’s BKT URC clash at the RDS against the Sharks that pulled on the blue jersey for the first time in a competitive match since March 4.

Starting at outside centre, Osborne played the full 80 minutes as Leinster notched their first win of the campaign to rebound from an opening-round loss at Glasgow Warriors.

Now the aim is to be in the matchday squad named at noon today when Leo Cullen unveils his 23, still missing his large contingent of World Cup players, to face Edinburgh when Leinster return to the RDS tomorrow afternoon.

“It’s great to be involved here at the moment with so many young players, there are academy players playing every week, and lads making their debut and everyone wants to learn and make the most of their opportunities they’ve been given.

“Lads have definitely being doing that and I think hopefully will continue to do that when the internationals come back.”