England’s Six Nations Opener Clouded by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso Injury, Tom Roebuck to Debut

Feyi-Waboso Ruled Out, Roebuck Set to Make Debut

England have suffered a significant setback before their Six Nations opener against Wales. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, originally set to start on the right wing, has been ruled out with a leg issue. Tom Roebuck will now make his debut in Feyi-Waboso’s place.

Injury Details and Comments

According to England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth, Feyi-Waboso limped out of training on Thursday, February 5, raising concerns about his availability for the Test. “Manny just pulled up at the very end,” Wigglesworth said. “His leg’s sore… There was nothing specific, and he walked off. There was nothing much to it, but he did miss the last 60 seconds of training, so we’re just waiting to investigate that a little bit more.”

Feyi-Waboso’s Injury History

This is not Feyi-Waboso’s first injury concern this season. He missed Exeter’s opening PREM Rugby Cup fixtures with a hamstring issue and was substituted early in the second-half against Northampton Saints in round one of the PREM season. His current injury follows a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a shoulder issue picked up in December 2024, which saw him miss out on the British and Irish Lions tour.

England’s Starting Line-up and Bench

With Feyi-Waboso out, England’s starting line-up now features Tom Roebuck on the right wing. Freddie Steward and Henry Arundell will join Roebuck in the back-three, with Tommy Freeman and Fraser Dingwall named in the centres. George Ford and Alex Mitchell will continue their half-back partnership.

In the pack, Ben Earl gets the nod at number eight, with Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper named on the flanks. Ollie Chessum and Alex Coles both start at lock, while Joe Heyes, captain Jamie George, and Ellis Genge feature in the front-row.

England’s bench is equally strong, with Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, and Marcus Smith named.

Match Details and Referees

England will face Wales at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday, February 7, with a kick-off time of 16:40 GMT. The referee for the match will be Pierre Brousset (FFR), assisted by Nic Berry (RA) and Morné Ferreira (SARU). Tual Trainini (FFR) will serve as the TMO, and Brett Cronan (RA) will be the FPRO.

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England’s Updated Team Line-up

• England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Ellis Genge
• Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Marcus Smith

Final Thoughts

While England faces a setback with Feyi-Waboso’s injury, they remain a strong force with a deep bench. The stage is set for an engaging start to the Six Nations, with England eager to showcase their ‘ruthless’ edge against Wales.

Hey, sports fans! Share your thoughts on England’s Six Nations opener and the impact of Feyi-Waboso’s injury. Drop a comment below, and let’s chat!