Jordie Barrett makes big prediction for huge Ireland talent with ‘complete skill set’ who is ‘very similar’ to the All Blacks star

Colin Newboult
All Blacks star Jordie Barrett in action for Leinster and Jamie Osborne taking on La Rochelle (inset).

All Blacks star Jordie Barrett in action for Leinster and Jamie Osborne taking on La Rochelle.

Jordie Barrett has predicted big things for Ireland and Leinster’s versatile back Jamie Osborne, whose importance is increasing for both club and country.

The 23-year-old only made his Test debut in 2024 but he has already proved his worth to the international set-up with some fine performances.

Osborne was named in the Ireland squad on Wednesday for the upcoming Six Nations Championship and could well play a big part in the tournament.

Osborne’s versatility

He is already a key member of the Leinster side and has shown his ability to play in multiple positions, which is akin to Barrett.

Like the All Blacks star, he appears to prefer centre but the youngster can also play at full-back and, against La Rochelle in the Champions Cup, he was on the wing.

“I guess it has just worked out that way, Jamie has come into the Irish squad playing centre, full-back and wing – very similar to what I did – and, look, he is a great young prospect,” the New Zealander told reporters.

“He has a great head on his shoulders too, he has a very high ceiling, that kid is going to be good for a number of years.

“We all saw what he did last weekend in La Rochelle (switching from training at full-back to starting on the wing after a late withdrawal), he has the complete skill set, the head, he works very hard and he is a quality player.”

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Osborne, alongside fly-half Sam Prendergast, are the two backs from the new generation that are the most likely to become Ireland stars.

They both started in the Champions Cup last weekend and the duo could also line up together when the Six Nations comes around in two weeks’ time.

Prendergast has usurped the other fly-half options in the Leinster squad to become their first choice pivot having been in the number 10 slot for the big European clashes.

Although his display was mixed against La Rochelle, Barrett is expecting him to become a key cog in both the Leinster and Ireland machine.

‘In great hands’

“Sam is a great young player and he’s got a great skill-set, he’s very aware of his strengths and uses those strengths to his advantage – he’s still a kid, all his best years are ahead of him,” the All Black added.

“I think Leinster and Ireland are in great hands for a number of years and, look, he’s not going to be perfect every game.

“There will be things he’ll do really well and things he’ll get wrong but that’s important for a young number 10, just learning through those experiences.

“They can’t become the complete package overnight. There’s a number of great young number 10s in Ireland and I know there’s always a search to find a replacement for Johnny who was unbelievable over a number of years.”

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