No reason to break up Osborne-Henshaw axis - Gordon D'Arcy on Leinster centre pairing

Gordon D'Arcy doesn’t believe there’s any reason for Leinster to change their European centre partnership of Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw, even if Garry Ringrose becomes available.

Ireland outside centre Ringrose, according to Leinster, is on track to be fit for selection for their Investec Champions Cup semi-final with Northampton in Croke Park on 4 May.

The 29-year-old is struggling with a shoulder injury and played just 24 minutes, as a replacement against Scotland, in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.

The Dubliner, who has 57 international caps and 123 Leinster appearances, originally injured his shoulder on 20 January.

In his absence, Henshaw has moved to second centre and 22-year-old Osborne, who stands 6ft 3in and weighs over 14st, has filled in at inside centre and stood out in wins over Leicester Tigers and La Rochelle.

Henshaw has previously said he prefers the outside berth. Kildare native Osborne made his Leinster debut in January 2021 and has played 42 times for the province.

"At the moment I would pick Jamie Osborne and Robbie Henshaw," former Ireland and Leinster back D’Arcy said.

"That might seem a little harsh on Garry Ringrose, and it is, but there’s nothing to suggest that you would split them up at the moment.

"[Osborne] offers that gainline [threat] as well as that second five-eighth distributor in there, strong kicking game.

"He’s quintessentially what a 12 would be. Robbie Henshaw, at the moment, is really comfortable in the 13 jersey. It would be hard to move him out of there.

"Through [his] injury, the onus is on Garry Ringrose to come back in and come up to that standard to force a decision for the coaches."

Osborne (above) has trained with Andy Farrell's Ireland but not yet been capped. D'Arcy, the 2004