‘Can’t wait to see him go’ – Borthwick backs Feyi-Waboso return

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s enthusiasm for training has been difficult, according to England coach Steve Borthwick, who has been training for six months.

Feyi-Waboso from Exeter was chosen to start for the France XV on Saturday at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

Before having an operation, the 22-year-old suffered a setback during an international training camp after dislocating his shoulder against Sale in December.

Borthwick claimed that it was quite a job to work with him last week as he was trying to keep himself out of some things and stop him from throwing himself in while he was still coming in to those very last elements of return to play.

“During training, I almost had to man-mark him!” He was energetic and full of enthusiasm.

Feyi-Waboso, who had eight England appearances before that, had nominated for World Rugby’s Breakthrough of the Year after a stellar 2024. He scored five tries in those eight.

Prior to his injury, he had a strong chance of being chosen for the British and Irish Lions, and assistant coach Andy Farrell has the possibility of adding to his squad if players come back from injury and are fit.

Ted Hill and Guy Pepper start for England after playing significant roles in last weekend’s Premiership final win over Leicester, with Tom Willis from Saracens at number eight.

Joe Carpenter of Sale is at full-back, and Seb Atkinson of Gloucester is at 12; however, the match against a second-string French outfit without a Test will require his first cap.

While Northampton’s Alex Coles, who last appeared for England during the tour of New Zealand last summer, earns a shot in the second row, fly-half George Ford and hooker Jamie George co-captain the side.

On the bench is Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke, along with the Harlequins forward trio of Chandler Cunningham-South, Jack Kenningham, and Alex Dombrandt.

Borthwick made it known that Dombrandt has been training in the centers and will play both back and middle defenders, with Quirke and Oscar Beard the only two specialist backs remaining on the bench.

England is without the 13 Lions tourists as they get ready for Friday’s warm-up game against Argentina and the tour of Australia.

Ford has a chance to claim the 10 shirt he last wore at the end of the 2024 Six Nations because Fin Smith and Marcus Smith both play for the Lions.

In the camp, Ben Curry, Fraser Dingwall, George Furbank, and Harry Randall are all recovering from injuries.

Curry, who was just weeks away from recovering from a concussion in last month’s Champions Cup final defeat by Bordeaux-Begles, will have to play in the France XV game as a precaution after pulling a minor hamstring in Sale’s Premiership semi-final defeat by Leicester.

However, Randall and Dingwall, who both suffered shoulder injuries against Bath, pose greater doubts for the summer tour of Argentina and the United States.

In the 28-strong French squad for the game last weekend, there were Gael Fickou, Nolann Le Garrec, Cameron Woki, and Theo Attissogbe.

With the Top 14 semi-finals featuring Toulouse, Bordeaux-Begles, Toulon, and Bayonne taking place on the same weekend, coach Fabien Galthie is without a lot of stars.

The match serves as a prelude to the teams’ respective summer tours, with England taking on the Pumas in a two-test series before a one-off game against the United States in Washington, DC. On Monday, the tour’s lineup will be announced.