Feyi-Waboso caps rapid rise with England Six Nations start
England coach Steve Borthwick said Thursday that Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has earned the right to make his first Test start against Ireland in the Six Nations after a meteoric rise this season.
The Wales-born player, 21, will line up on the right wing at Twickenham less than a year after playing in the third tier of English rugby for Taunton Titans.
The Exeter flyer, capped twice as a replacement, comes in for the benched Elliot Daly after scoring a late try as a substitute during England's 30-21 defeat by Scotland in Edinburgh last month.
Former England captain Borthwick said the medical student was "full of gratitude" after being told he was in the starting XV.
"We've seen him progress brilliantly and he has earned this opportunity," he said.
"Manny came on to the field two weeks ago and had an incredible impact. He is a player who wants the ball. He's ready, he's more than ready.
"He's an incredible talent, but the maturity we've seen from Manny is something that's impressed me a lot."
Borthwick has made three personnel changes and one positional switch following the Calcutta Cup loss.
Tommy Freeman switches from right wing to left wing as England look to return to winning ways following victories over Italy and Wales in the opening two rounds of the Six Nations.
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is recalled after missing the Scotland defeat due to a knee injury, with Danny Care in line to win his 100th cap off a bench featuring Harlequins half-back partner Marcus Smith, fit after a calf problem.
In the pack, Ollie Chessum moves from lock to blindside flanker in place of Ethan Roots, with George Martin now partnering Maro Itoje in the second row.
- Pressure -
Defeat by Scotland ended England's hopes of a Grand Slam and Borthwick said the pressure of the Calcutta Cup clash had got to his side.
"We know in the Scotland game there were errors, and it was the first time in a while I've seen the (England) shirt feel heavy on the players," he said at the squad's training base near London.
"We made some errors and then started playing in a different way. And when you start deviating from the way you want to play, it leads to more errors. But I believe in these players, and they are determined to put in a performance this weekend."
Six Nations champions Ireland, coached by former England international Andy Farrell, know a bonus-point win will secure consecutive titles with a game to spare.
Ireland, who have won their past three Six Nations matches against England, are also bidding to become the first team in the Six Nations era to record back-to-back Grand Slams.
Although Ireland lost in the quarter-finals of last year's World Cup in France, Borthwick said they were the "best team in the world" based on their Six Nations performances.
"If they're allowed to get into their rhythm, then they're a very strong side. So we need to ensure they don't get in that rhythm," he added.
England (15-1)
George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Chessum; George Martin, Maro Itoje; Dan Cole, Jamie George (capt), Ellis Genge
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly
Coach: Steve Borthwick (ENG)
T.Wright--EWJ
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