In a significant setback for England's rugby team, coach Steve Borthwick has faced the unfortunate news that standout winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will be sidelined for the entirety of the Six Nations tournament. This news comes on the heels of the team's commanding 48-7 victory over Wales at Twickenham, where Feyi-Waboso was unable to participate due to a serious hamstring injury sustained during training just days prior.
The 23-year-old, who hails from Cardiff and is also pursuing a medical degree, played a crucial role in England's autumn tests, where he started in all four matches and scored tries in their victories against both Fiji and Argentina. His impressive performance with the Exeter Chiefs this season saw him score seven tries in the opening five games, including a remarkable hat trick against the Newcastle Red Bulls, and he has accumulated a total of 11 tries across 17 appearances for his club and country.
But here's where it gets controversial: while Borthwick faces this dilemma, he has made a surprising decision to bring back Tom Roebuck, who had previously been deemed a week away from full fitness. This suggests that Roebuck might be ready to step into the lineup for the upcoming Calcutta Cup match against Scotland this weekend.
Assistant coach Tom Harrison confirmed the unfortunate news about Feyi-Waboso, stating, "[Manny] pulled out of training in the last 60 seconds and unfortunately won’t be available this weekend. He sustained a pulled muscle in the leg area. Does it disrupt some plans? Yes, it does because it’s changing a player. But we’ve done everything we can to make sure the next player is ready."
Now, Borthwick must consider whether to keep faith with Sale Sharks winger, who recently returned from a toe injury sustained during a match against the All Blacks, or to call upon Elliot Daly instead. Another option on the table includes shifting Tommy Freeman, who finished the match against Wales on the wing, to start there in Edinburgh, especially with Bath’s Ollie Lawrence expected to return from a knee injury.
Lawrence appears poised to partner Fraser Dingwall in the center, as Borthwick aims to minimize changes after witnessing his team score an impressive seven tries. What do you think about the choices Borthwick has to make? Will the changes affect the team’s performance against Scotland? Share your thoughts!
