Georgia v Ireland: Stuart McCloskey comfortable being elder statesman in youthful squad

McCloskey, whose last Ireland start came against Italy in February 2024, is expected to partner Jamie Osborne in the midfield in Saturday’s Test against Georgia.

Osborne, 23, is known as one of Ireland’s most versatile players. He can play at either inside or outside centre and started at full-back and right wing against Wales and France in this year’s Six Nations.

“Jamie’s been great. He’s the kind of guy that slips into any position fairly well,” said McCloskey.

“You can play him anywhere over the backline and he’ll do a great job. We’ve had a good combination going there the last couple of days.

“He’s physical, he’s got all the skills and everything you’d want in a rugby player. I’m sure he’ll go on and get a lot more caps under his belt over the next 10 years.”

As for himself, McCloskey wants to use the Georgia and Portugal games to stake his claim ahead of a glamorous autumn programme that includes Ireland’s rematch against the All Blacks in Chicago and a home Test against double world champions South Africa.

That means impressing O’Connell, who he played against in the old Pro12 days.

“Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out,” McCloskey recalls of Ulster’s 19-17 win at Thomond Park in May 2014.

“I remember it very well. Michael Heaney scored a try, they were trying to get to second and we were fourth, couldn’t go up or down, it was back in the Pro12 days and we got the win, I think it was my fourth cap.”

Perhaps he mentions it to O’Connell when the towering Irish icon brings us McCloskey’s age?

“No, but I like to think he knows it. I’m trying to get picked this week!”