Steve Borthwick explains why he had to ‘step in and stop’ Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ‘a number of times’ at England training this week
England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Steve Borthwick has given his verdict on the England training ground impact of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the fit-again Exeter winger who is in the mix for selection on his country’s summer tour to Argentina and the United States.
The 22-year-old hasn’t played since a pre-Christmas injury to his shoulder away to Sale in the Gallagher Premiership.
With England now having the final say on medical issues surrounding all enhanced contract EPS players, including Feyi-Waboso, it was initially decided to rebab the problem without surgery.
However, an England training setback during the Six Nations ultimately resulted in an operation that scuppered his hopes of selection in the British and Irish Lions squad.
Feyi-Waboso could make his return to play in Exeter’s final match of the league season, the May 31 game at home to Sale. In the meantime, he was one of 33 players who gathered at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday for a two-day England camp.
The winger’s involvement was restricted to just a single day due to a university medical exams on Wednesday, but he still made a positive impression on England coach Borthwick despite having to shoot off early.
“There was a really positive energy…”
Asked for his assessment of the eight-cap wing, who lined out with a squad featuring 14 uncapped players, Borthwick said: “He trained on the field with the team for elements of the session and did some modified training.
“He was in team training and doing individual training.
“He looks really good. The medical teams are really pleased with his recovery.
“You get a sense off the player of how he is feeling and there was a really positive energy off Manny today.
“The number of times I had to step in and had to pull him back because he wanted to do more – I had to step in and stop that a number of times today.
“I had to go and stand on his wing and remind him.”
England’s summer programme kicks off with an England XV facing a France XV at Twickenham on June 21, the day after the Lions open their tour with a match in Dublin versus Argentina before they fly out to Australia.
