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England: Standing Feyi-Waboso down against Wales wasn't considered
England boss Steve Borthwick has explained that omitting rookie winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso from his match day 23 to face Wales was never a consideration.
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The 21-year-old was born and raised in Cardiff, but he is now in line to earn his second Test cap against his native country after being named as Borthwick’s 23-man for the round two Guinness Six Nations game at Twickenham.
Feyi-Waboso played for Wales at U18s level but having starred at Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup level this season for Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs, the university medical student threw his international allegiance in with England as he qualified through a grandmother.
The youngster made his English Test debut off the bench in Rome last weekend and Borthwick mentioned in the aftermath that they would take special care of their newcomer in the lead-up to the clash with Wales due to the online abuse suffered by Owen Farrell and Tom Curry at the recent Rugby World Cup.
Wales boss Warren Gatland had claimed Feyi-Waboso ‘s allegiance change hadn’t gone down well in some quarters across the border and Borthwick said after the 27-24 win over the Italians: “There is a heightened awareness now of those external noises and external factors. We will give all the players all the support they need.
“Regarding Manny, three things: he trains really hard, he enjoys being with the players and in the remaining time he is studying for his medicine degree. He is pretty busy. My experience right now is that he has his head focused on where it needs to be.”
The head coach doubled down on this observation following a Thursday team announcement at Pennyhill that confirmed an unchanged starting line-up from round one and the reinstatement of Ellis Genge as the only bench change.
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Asked if there was a consideration to stand Feyi-Waboso down from the match against the country of his birth, Borthwick said: “Not from my point of view. He came on last week in the last 10 minutes of the game and I thought he did really well in that time.
“He has been an incredibly calm, composed, mature character. I’m sure Jamie (George, the captain) can add more in that regard. He has trained super well. In the little time I have known him he doesn’t seem to get fazed and so I only have good things to say about the man.”
George chipped in: “I have been so impressed with everyone who has come into the squad for the first time, Manny in particular. He is a very confident guy, he understands the system. Probably our defensive system is one that is pretty similar to Exeter, which is obviously beneficial.
“But like Steve said, he isn’t fazed by anything. He relishes the big occasion. He is very excited this week in particular, I know that. I think the way he has been fitting into the team is credit to him and credit to all the hard work that he has done.”
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Feyi-Waboso was one of five players who earned their debut Test caps in Rome. Fraser Dingwall and Ethan Roots were both in the starting line-up while Chandler Cunningham-South and Fin Smith made their first appearances from the bench.
All five have now been included to face the Welsh and new skipper George has been pleased with his team’s build-up to Saturday. “There is a huge excitement around the squad in terms of building on the performance as a whole.
“We have said it a million times since Saturday, it wasn’t exactly where we wanted it to be but the courage and the endeavour to try and do things a little bit differently, to try and play at a higher intensity was there.
“Naturally as a player, you just want to go into the next thing. Steve has been having to pull us back all week because it’s England-Wales, we’re back at Twickenham for the first time; there is a huge amount of excitement.
“Those young guys who came in for their first caps, first and foremost they deserve their selection because they were brilliant in terms of what they did.
“Ethan and Fraser in starting the game and the rest of the guys off the bench really added. I guess that hopefully answers your question (about changes being kept to a minimum) in that everyone wants to put their hand up.
“The guys that have come back in outside the 23 have come back in and really added. We really want to try and build on the foundation we laid in Rome.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Best thing the Welsh clubs could do is apply to join Gallagher prem surely be more exciting matches for there support than they have now.
2 Go to commentsRugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
8 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
21 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
64 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
21 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
64 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
8 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
8 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
8 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
8 Go to comments