Craig Casey winning scrum-half race as Andy Farrell ponders major Jamie Osborne surprise for first Springbok Test

With Jamison Gibson-Park out injured, the identity of the scrum-half is the biggest talking point ahead of Thursday’s team announcement although there’s a growing sense in South Africa that Farrell may have a surprise or two up his sleeve at 2pm.

The Ireland coach has kept his counsel since touching down in Johannesburg, even when his opposite number Rassie Erasmus audaciously predicted his matchday 23 last weekend.

We’ll find out on Thursday how close the Springbok supremo was, but it appears that Farrell is considering a first cap for Jamie Osborne at full-back.

South Africa tour daily – July 3: Ireland prepare to name their team for the first Test

Jimmy O’Brien had been the favourite to start in Hugo Keenan’s absence, while squad members Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour and Jacob Stockdale have all played there under Farrell.

The versatile 22-year-old has enjoyed plenty of game-time at centre for Leinster this season and he’s started at full-back twice for his province, the last time against Glasgow in November 2022.

The selection of Osborne would be a major curve-ball from Farrell and it would be a huge vote of confidence in the highly-rated youngster at altitude, in a hostile venue and against some of the best tactical kickers in the game in Faf de Klerk, Handré Pollard and Willie le Roux.

Farrell is expected to retain Calvin Nash and James Lowe on the wings, while he may opt for the physical pairing of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw despite Garry Ringrose’s return to fitness.

Up front, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are the preferred front-row, with Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy expected to renew their second-row partnership and captain Peter O’Mahony joining Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris in the back-row.

It remains to be seen if Farrell has any other surprises up his sleeve when he names his team at 2pm Irish time, with the make-up of the bench a major other big decision on the coach’s agenda.

He picked a 6/2 split of forwards and backs three times during the Six Nations, but he’s always gone with 5/3 when he’s had his top three centres available.

It would be a big decision to leave Ringrose out altogether, while Jack Conan’s absence limits the back-row bench options.