The versatile Leinster back has done some good things in his eight caps so far.
He won his first Test cap off the bench against the South Africa ns in a 19-16 win in Dublin in November 2022, although it probably wasn’t the debut he had imagined.
O’Brien’s poise on his debut was as impressive as anything, even if Johnny Sexton joked afterwards that “he seemed calm but he said afterwards he was shitting it.”“I think he might be adding legs to that story,” said O’Brien. “First half, I thought there was no way they’d bring me on. There was a split-second when I was maybe shitting it but got over that quickly.”
That autumn effort put O’Brien firmly in Ireland’s plans for the 2023 World Cup, especially given that he had underlined his ability to play multiple positions.Farrell used a centre in the number 23 shirt for several games during the 2023 Six Nations but O’Brien made a brief cameo against Italy and then had a long stint off the bench in the Grand Slam-clinching game against England.
But come the quarter-final against New Zealand, O’Brien was fit again. Though it was a heartbreaking day for Ireland, the 27-year-old had an impressive display off the bench after replacing the injured Hansen on the right wing.And his overhead catch of a Kiwi kick launched the 37-phase Ireland attack that ultimately came up empty-handed at the end of the game.
O’Brien then started on the left wing in a good performance against the Ospreys, moved to outside centre against Ulster a week later, then missed out on the matchday 23 for the Champions Cup final against Toulouse as Leinster went for a 6/2 bench. He didn’t get many chances with ball in hand against the Bulls but O’Brien’s aerial work was back to its assured best in that game as the South Africans tested Leinster with their kicking.Ciarán Frawley started at fullback for Ireland against Wales in this year’s Six Nations when Keenan was injured, while Jordan Larmour was sprung into action at number 15 in the final game against Scotland when Keenan had to pull out during the warm-up.
Jimmy O'brien Job South Africa
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