England blow: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso set to miss entire Six Nations
England coach Steve Borthwick has suffered a massive injury blow with the news that star winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is set to miss the whole of the Six Nations.
The Exeter Chiefs flyer was ruled out of Saturday’s 48-7 walloping of Wales at Twickenham after picking up a serious hamstring injury in training on Thursday.
The Cardiff-born medical student, 23, started all four of England’s autumn Tests, scoring tries in the wins over Fiji and Argentina, and has been in superb form for the Chiefs this season.
He scored seven tries in their opening five games of the campaign, including a hat-trick against Newcastle Red Bulls, and has scored 11 in 17 appearances for club and country. Sources in the England camp say it is not good news.
Borthwick opted to give a surprise recall to Tom Roebuck just after saying that he was a week or so away from fitness, suggesting that he would be ready for the Calcutta Cup game against Scotland this weekend.
“[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,” said England assistant coach Tom Harrison.
Borthwick now needs to decide whether to stick with the Sale Sharks winger, who played his first game since breaking a toe against the All Blacks in the autumn, or recall Elliot Daly.
He also has the option of moving Tommy Freeman, who finished the win over Wales on the wing, and could start there in Edinburgh, especially as Bath’s Ollie Lawrence, who missed the game with a knee injury, is set to return to fitness.
Lawrence seems likely to partner Fraser Dingwall in the centre, with Borthwick set to keep changes to a minimum after watching his side run in seven tries.
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