Leinster and Ireland player was preparing to close out his season when he was summoned to Australia
Jamie Osborne’s turbulent season ended on a bright note. He was two days away from concluding his season after missing out on the Leinster match-day 23 for the Champions Cup quarter-final and semi-final, and then sitting out the United Rugby Championship final. That season’s last game was supposed to be Ireland’s match against Portugal in Lisbon.
The Thursday before the Portugal game, he was in a taxi with Craig Casey, Cian Prendergast, Darragh Murray, and Jack Crowley on his way to a barbershop when his phone called. He looked at the screen and realized it was Andy Farrell.
“It was unexpected,” Osborne said, adding that the Ireland and Lions head coach had given him no indication that he might be considered for a late call-up.
“He hadn’t said anything to me, but I was just in Lisbon when I got a phone call on Thursday at 11 a.m. and saw his name and thought, ‘This is probably good’.
“The lads were probably celebrating more than myself,” he said afterwards.
Osborne called his mother right away, despite the fact that his parents and three younger brothers were on vacation in Spain and had been unable to return.
“Luckily enough I wasn’t flying until Friday afternoon, so I was able to get my things in order for the day and just enjoy it with the lads back in camp.”
He flew through Dubai and arrived in Brisbane a day before the Lions squad. It gave him a full week to help the Lions prepare for the first Test.
He feels having so many Leinster and Irish teammates, as well as coaches he is familiar with, has been quite beneficial.
“The language is different, but there’s a lot of similar stuff, so it’s just a matter of wrapping your head around it and then trying out some different plays. But a lot of it is similar enough that it takes a day and a walk through to understand.”
Rooming with Josh van der Flier has proven beneficial. Osborne claims his Leinster colleague possesses all of the characteristics of an ideal roommate.
“Nice and chilled, no snoring, neat and tidy. I’m definitely dirtier than him, so he doesn’t like it as much.”
Last Saturday at Suncorp Stadium, Osborne could be seen running at ’13’ and throwing a long right-to-left pass.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere in Suncorp was palpable during the warm-up, as was the stadium’s coolness.
Jordie Barrett’s arrival was undoubtedly a double-edged sword for Osborne, as is his versatility.
He stated, “It can feel nice to be chosen and horrible to be rejected.
“I believe it’s about making it a strength rather than a weakness, and if the time comes for me to settle into a position, so be it.
“I can definitely go for that, but at the moment, versatility is probably a factor in why I’m here. “You can’t knock it.”
Especially not when it means partnering Owen Farrell for the Lions in the enclosed Marvel Stadium against the First Nation and Pasifika XV.
“Yes, it’s very cool. The leadership he brings to camp, as well as the manner he communicates, are both outstanding. Everyone pays attention when he speaks, so hopefully it will be a good experience to play alongside him.
“I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can as well.”
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