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Three changes for England, including a first start for Feyi-Waboso
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick has named an England team showing three changes to host Ireland this Saturday in the Guinness Six Nations in London, including a first Test start for rookie winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
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The English had their best start to the championship since 2019 ruined by their 21-30 round three loss to Scotland in Edinburgh on February 24 and their reaction for the visit of Ireland to Twickenham has been to change two of their backs and one of their forwards.
Borthwick named a 36-man squad last Sunday that included Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell following their respective injury rehabilitation, as well as the return of Feyi-Waboso after he missed the fallow week York training camp due to an in-person university medical exam.
Feyi-Waboso was a try-scoring replacement in the loss to Scotland, but he has now been handed a first Test start in what will be his third international appearance.
He comes into the backline on the right wing in place of the benched Elliot Daly, whose left wing spot will be filled by Tommy Freeman who switches flanks on this occasion.
At half-back, the fit-again Mitchell retakes his starting spot from the benched Danny Care.
As for their pack, the sole change is the promotion of George Martin from the bench to start. He will play at lock, with Ollie Chessum switching to blindside at the expense of the excluded Ethan Roots.
Unlike Ireland, who have a six/two forwards/backs bench split, England have stuck with a five/three divide.
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Alex Dombrandt, who hasn’t been capped since the early August Rugby World Cup warm-up loss to Wales in Cardiff, is included among the replacements, as is Marcus Smith who takes the spot held last month by his namesake Fin.
England (vs Ireland, Saturday)
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 60 caps)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 22 caps)
11. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 94 caps) – vice-captain
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 13 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 60 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 110 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 79 caps) – vice-captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
6. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 28 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 10 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 91 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 36 caps)
19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 3 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 15 caps)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 99 caps)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 30 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 67 caps)
Good to see Dondbrandt in replacements been in great form deserves another chance for England
I’m not so sure. He’s purrs for Quins, but he hasn’t shown much in an England shirt. 15 caps in and you’d think a player would be starting to claim the position. I guess England are limited in depth at 8, so presumably that’s why Borthwick has included him, but for heavy, direct, hole-punching carrying he need look no further than Barbeary.
I remain to be convinced about the idea of playing Chessum at 6 is he really mobile enough to play backrow personally I would have preferred to see CCS given the gig but happy if Chessum gives a decent impression of Courtney…!!! Tbh I'm a big fan of Marcus Smith but as he's been out for a few weeks then being on the bench may not be a bad thing as if he'd been picked at 10 the media would be building him up as the saviour of the team and if the forwards don't win quick ball even the late great Barry John would struggle..
I guess with Martin at 5 and Chessum moving to 6 gives England another, reliable line-out option, which some pundits are indicating is an area they expect England to try and disrupt.
No Freddie Steward, A No. 8 who’s barely 100kg and a complete novice on the wing to face James Lowe. Good luck!! Ireland by 25+…..
You’re right that Steward is a big miss. Really can’t fathom what Borthwick is thinking tbh
I don’t think Earls weight will be a big issue though. There's no rule that says the number 8 has to be the main close-range carrier, and there’s plenty of weight elsewhere in the pack.
Feyi-Waboso definitely could turn out to be a liability, but there’s reason to have some confidence. He’s more of a young Jack Nowell than a Henry Arundell, in that he excels defensively and is able to make attacking calls. Of course, he’s never done those things against a team like Ireland, but I think there’s less risk than there normally would be with a player his age.
Ireland by 8.