Osborne to make Lions debut

Jamie Osborne will make his British & Irish Lions debut in the final midweek game of the tour against First Nations & Pasifika XV on Tuesday (Kick off 11am).

It caps a meteoric rise for the Naas man who only made his senior Irish debut last month. He only linked up with the Lions squad little over a week after being a late call up due to injuries elsewhere but clearly there is a lot of faith in the 23-year-old.

Assistant coach Simon Easterby said the call up is fully deserved.

"Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer and his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13 or wing, it's pretty impressive the positions he can cover and the quality he brings.” 

That versatility comes to the fore again as Osborne has been picked at outside centre and will partner Owen Farrell in midfield.

With none of the starting team picked featuring any players who featured in last Saturday’s opening test win over Australia, Osborne is one of four Irish players named in the starting XV along with Finlay Bealham, James Ryan and Josh van der Flier.

Thomas Clarkson is also set to make his Lions debut from the bench and he is joined among the replacements by Garry Ringrose.