Selection headaches for Farrell as Kildare seven push for game time
Jamie Osborne and Cian Prendergast will hope to play a big part against Australia, Japan and New Zealand. All Photos: INPHO/Ben Brady.
Munster captain Beirne has not played since mid April and was one of those players expected to be left at home for this tour.
But the 2025 Lions Player of the Series and Irish Player of the Year continues to be Ireland’s iron man, with Farrell surprisingly selecting the Eadestown native.
Ireland will hope to have Beirne ready for the New Zealand clash, so he will need game time before then, either at lock or blindside flanker; expect, therefor, to see him named to play Australia, Japan, or possibly both.
Naas man Osborne started all five of Ireland’s Six Nations games at full back, but the return of Hugo Keenan has seen Osborne relocate to centre for Leinster over the past three months.
It could be difficult to get a starting jersey in midfield ahead of Stuart McCloskey, Bundee Aki, Gary Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, but Osborne’s versatility makes him an excellent option in the 23 shirt.
He will most likely start off the bench against Australia and New Zealand, but could be the starting 12, 13 or 15 again Japan.
It has been a season of epic highs and crushing lows for Prendergast. The Suncroft man began the Six Nations as Ireland’s starting fly half before being unceremoniously dropped from the 23 entirely after the first two rounds.
He then found himself behind Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley in the pecking order for Leinster’s run to the Champions Cup final, only to be given the keys to the car for the URC play-offs, where he drove the province on to their tenth domestic title, complete with a Player of the Match performance in the Grand Final.
The absence of incumbent fly half, Jack Crowley has blown the hunt for the Irish ten jersey wide open again, meaning Prendergast, Frawley and Byrne renew their battle for then ten (and 22) jersey, with Prendergast the likely front-runner to start in Sydney.
With Baird out and Beirne returning from injury, the elder Prendergast can expect to be rewarded for an excellent season with one, two, or possibly even three appearances on this tour.
The Connacht captain covers the entire back row, and adds some additional leadership - which could be crucial in the absence of Cealan Doris.
Like Osborne, Jimmy O’Brien’s versatility practically guarantees him some game time on this tour.
With no James Lowe, Mack Hansen or Tommy O’Brien to choose from, Ireland are left with the Ulster trio of Jacob Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune and the uncapped Zac Ward as wing options, along with Eadestown’s O’Brien.
The Leinster man also offers cover for Hugo Keenan at full back, although Osborne and Frawley are also proficient in the 15 jersey.
Athy’s Jeremy Loughman started all three of Ireland’s opening games in this year’s Six Nations, but injury opened the door for Tom O’Toole. The Ulster man is likely to be in the number one jersey against Australia, with Loughman on the bench.
Munster ended the season poorly, however, and as such Loughman may struggle for minutes, with the form loosehead in the country still to be discussed.
A senior international debut for the youngest player in Ireland’s squad would continue the remarkable trajectory of Billy Bohan’s career.
The Connacht man is the aforementioned in-form Irish loosehead. He will surely make his debut against Japan, but Farrell may decide to throw Bohan in at the deep end against Australia straight away - with the Newbridge College alum having proven himself up to the task at every level this season.
If he were to impress in the opening game or two, Bohan even could be on course to face the All Blacks.
