Borthwick bids to snatch Feyi-Waboso from under Wales’ noses

Warren Gatland may scupper Borthwick by naming Feyi-Waboso in Wales’ Six Nations squad, which will be unveiled a day earlier than England’s

Steve Borthwick has confirmed his interest in picking Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for England ahead of Wales, disclosing that he has contacted the Cardiff-born Exeter Chiefs wing after the 21-year-old’s sparkling start to the season.
Borthwick, the England head coach, also hinted that the back-rower Ethan Roots, another influential figure in Exeter’s recent success, was in contention for a Six Nations squad that will be named in two weeks.
Roots is a rugged and combative flanker who was born in New Zealand and represented the Crusaders before arriving at Sandy Park via two years at the Ospreys. The 24-year-old qualifies for England selection through his father.
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Greg Fisilau, the former England Under-20 international, is a third potential debutant to have caught Borthwick’s eye. Still 20, the versatile Fisilau is also a capable openside flanker, yet has been at the base of Exeter’s scrum. There, he has strung together a series of industrious performances, both in domestic fixtures and in the Champions Cup against Toulon and Munster. Fisilau, Roots and Feyi-Waboso are all being recognised for their roles in an assured Chiefs team that has defied its inexperience.
Tommy Freeman, influential in Northampton Saints’ rise to the top of the Premiership, was another to receive praise from the England head coach, as did Henry Slade. Something of a post-World Cup reset is required given Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs and Jonny May have all retired from Test rugby, with Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Tom Curry among a contingent of senior players to be absent for the beginning of the Six Nations at least.
On a more optimistic note, Borthwick will have Dan Cole available for the Six Nations and has been heartened by the efforts of Maro Itoje, Ben Earl and Alex Mitchell since the World Cup. There is scope, however, to introduce fresh faces among the more experienced names.
“As you’re watching all these Premiership and European games, there’s a crop of young players starting to emerge, young players that are really pushing their case,” Borthwick said.
“The likes of Fisilau at Exeter, Feyi-Waboso at Exeter, just to name a couple, those guys are impressive. Without meaning to talk just about Exeter, the way Ethan Roots is playing [is also impressive].
“There are players that have missed out on World Cup selection that have handled it in a manner that’s been really impressive, the likes of Tommy Freeman, playing centre [and] wing.
“Sladey, he was unfortunate to miss out on that final 33, and to play the way he’s been playing, he’s been excellent. Then you’ve got the guys who’ve come back from the World Cup, the English boys have played a lot.
“Maro’s playing well, Ben Earl’s back from injury and it’s great to see him back on the pitch. The way Alex Mitchell’s been playing, there’s a lot of competition for places right now.”
Feyi-Waboso, like Fisilau, joined Exeter after the demise of Wasps in 2022. A graduate of the Cardiff academy, who traded Wales for the West Midlands to pursue his medical studies, he has been elusive in attack and aggressive in defence. He was especially influential in a 24-14 victory over Bristol Bears on Friday evening. Warren Gatland could yet scupper Borthwick, of course, by naming Feyi-Waboso in the Wales squad, which will be unveiled a day earlier than England’s on Jan 16. That said, Borthwick appears to have made a forthright approach.
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“I’ve chatted to both of those players, yes,” Borthwick said of Feyi-Waboso and Roots. “I name a [Six Nations] squad on Jan 17 and what the players need to do is play well and earn their place in the selection. It is a competitive mix.
“As we watch the Premiership now, there are a lot of teams playing well, there are a lot of teams competing. Clearly I have a breakdown of all the performances of the teams and individuals and how everyone is playing, but we are also seeing record attendances at the weekend, the viewing numbers are up.
“We are seeing a competitive league with the number of teams fighting to make the top four. It is a good competition. We are seeing how well the teams did in the first two rounds of Europe. I’m seeing a lot of good performances.”
Loosehead prop is one position that could cause a significant headache ahead of England’s meeting with Italy on Feb 3. Mako Vunipola is suspended for four matches following a red card against Newcastle Falcons, while Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Bevan Rodd are all nursing injuries of varying severity. Borthwick, though, believes that there is a talented group of front-rowers in the pecking order below that.
“To go through the three at the World Cup, Ellis, Joe and Bev, Bev won’t feature in the Six Nations,” Borthwick said. “He’s injured, so unavailable. Ellis is currently coming back from a hamstring injury. He gets some more investigations in about a week’s time, so we will have a clearer picture of how the healing has gone. Hopefully, he’ll be very close to the start of the Six Nations. When exactly I won’t know for another week or so, but he’ll be very early in the Six Nations is the plan, all being well.
“Joe got injured here [at Twickenham, playing for Harlequins against Gloucester], an arm injury, on Saturday night. I spoke to Joe yesterday and that’s ongoing currently, what exactly and how much time he’ll miss is unclear. We are hopeful he will be available but that is still to be determined.
“Behind that, Beno Obano has been playing well at Bath, in terms of other options. Fin Baxter for Harlequins is playing well. Joe speaks highly. The players, the really good players, know who is another potential player to come through. Chat to Joe, he speaks really positively about Fin Baxter and what potential he has.
“You see Tarek [Haffar] at Northampton having been injured and come back to play well. Some good young props, [Phil] Brantingham up at Newcastle, he’s a good young prop. Clearly, there are players who are less experienced and younger, but there are guys playing well.”