JAMIE OSBORNE is a surprise inclusion on the wing for Ireland to face France in Saturday’s potential Six Nations decider.
The Leinster utility back is selected on the right wing in place of Connacht star Mack Hansen who has a quad injury.
Munster’s Calvin Nash got the nod when Hansen missed the Scotland game four weeks ago.
But Osborne, who lined up at fullback for Ireland a fortnight ago against Wales and has started on the wing – always the left – just four times in his career on this occasion.
But head coach Simon Easterby admitted that Osborne’s versatility swung it in his favour as the Leinster man can cover five positions.
And that is key as Ireland have responded to France putting seven forwards on their bench to unleash a fresh pack in the second half by selecting six forwards, and just two backs.
Easterby said: “Sometimes there’s really tight calls and it’s just the gut, but in this case there’s a couple of reasons for that.
“And one of those is that Jamie offers us more flexibility in the positions he can play. He gives us that coverage across the backline, in terms of the flexibility to go a 6:2 split.
“He’s done pretty well so far across the short international career he’s had. He’s a fabulous footballer, first and foremost.
“He’s got a physical presence and he’s also got a really smart rugby brain. He understands the game and the feel of the game.
“So we’ve got a bit of flexibility there in terms of his positioning, a flexibility to move him around a little bit in certain parts of the field so we can utilise his left, but he’s also got a right foot as well.
“So there’s a bit of flexibility within the system that would allow us to utilise him and Hugo in different positions.”
Osborne – who is naturally left footed – will likely switch with full back Hugo Keenan at times during the game while the pair, plus James Lowe give Ireland a back three who can kick well.
The rest of the starting XV is largely along expected lines with Garry Ringrose’s suspension meaning Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are in midfield, with Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park at halfback.
Tadhg Furlong has not been considered as he returns from a calf injury which means Finlay Bealham wins his 50th cap in the front row alongside Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter.
And captain Caelan Doris returns to the back row with the rest of the pack unchanged from the win in Cardiff a fortnight ago.
But with Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes on the line against France, Easterby has opted for a big bench, with six forwards rather than the standard five.
He said: “We felt with Caelan, who’s done incredibly well to get back to full fitness and done a brilliant job with the medical staff.
“We needed to make sure we had good coverage in the back-row, the guys we had starting in Wales in Jack Conan was very good, he’s come off the bench well and obviously Ryan Baird came off the bench in Cardiff and James Ryan did as well.
“We felt the dynamics of that pack and how France might play the game, meant we felt that it was a nice chunky back five of our scrum to come on and make an impact.
“As well as having someone like Jamie from the start and can cover a number of positions.”
Ireland: H Keenan, J Osborne, R Henshaw, B Aki, J Lowe, S Prendergast, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, F Bealham, J McCarthy, T Beirne, P O’Mahony, J van der Flier, C Doris.
Replacements: R Herring, C Healy, T Clarkson, J Ryan, J Conan, R Baird, C Murray, J Crowley.
