6. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – Exeter Chiefs
When Immanuel Feyi-Waboso reaches his top gear, he is almost impossible to bring to the deck. The explosive wing has been scorching up Sandy Park when he ignites the afterburners, with six tries to his name already this season. From dramatic corner dives against Northampton Saints, to half-pitch run-ins against Sale Sharks, Feyi-Waboso is a star on the rise, with England fans delighted to have secured his duties and put to bed the echoing of a Wales return.
Borthwick spoke prominently about Feyi-Waboso’s call-up to the squad, after the Cardiff-born wing cemented his England intentions in recent regional pre-competitions camps. Another top talent that won’t be playing for Wales anytime soon, Borthwick was delighted to have secured Feyi-Waboso, and re-called the phone conversation to tell the 21-year-old the news.
“So Manny and I spoke some weeks ago, and I’ve been in regular contact with him and particularly with Rob Baxter, as well, who’s been excellent. And Manny’s really impressed us, not just on the pitch, I think we can all see the the power that he brings, the speed that he brings, and how he finds a way through contact when they dosn’t appear to be your way through that.
“He’s a real mature guy. What he’s doing, he started his studies, medicine studies, and then playing for Wasps. Then to have gone through what Wasps went through, then move down to Exeter, restart from a rugby perspective and restart from a studies perspective. Really, a real sense of maturity within a young man, but really excited about this step.”
“When I rang him yesterday, and I spoke to him yesterday evening, and I asked ‘what are you doing?’, and he says, ‘I’ve just finished my university studies for the day, just wrapped up’ and I said, ‘I’m announcing the Six Nations squad tomorrow, and I’m naming you.’ I could sense that excitement and buzz down the phone, he was he was thrilled. That gave me a real buzz as well.”
7. Tom Roebuck – Sale Sharks
The seventh uncapped player in Steve Borthwick’s squad, could well have ended up in a different Six Nations set-up had the selection process played out differently. Sale Sharks wing Tom Roebuck was on the cards for both England and Scotland, with Gregor Townsend presenting his interest in the 23-year-old on the run up to the squad announcements.
Townsend was able to secure the services of England candidate Arron Reed, yet Roebuck did not join his Sale wing teammate North of the border despite the speculation. Townsend also had a reported ploy for Fin Smith, yet as mentioned the Northampton halfback is primed and ready to make his mark on the England team this coming Six Nations. Roebuck has been in exceptional form for Sale, and has patiently bided his time to capitalise on Jonny May’s international retirement.
With six tries to his name across all competitions, Roebuck’s power to batter through his opposite man kept him amongst Borthwick’s plans. The wing had spoken with the England head coach ahead of last year’s Rugby World Cup, with Borthwick explaining his delight when Roebuck nailed his colours to the England mast so far in advance.
“So Tom Roebuck and I, we spoke last year.” Borthwick said. “We spoke prior to the World Cup, and the latter part of last season, and (I said) that I was very impressed with what he was doing. And I think my words at that point in time were ‘right now, there are other wingers that I’m rating very highly. And I think there’d be more opportunity immediately post World Cup.’
“You look at it as an opportunity, with people like Jonny (May) stepping away, you see opportunities emerge. Immense credit to Tom, the way he’s going about his game, really tried to work hard and develop and has said that he wants to be playing for England, and has been determined to play for England. So I’d been dighted by that, was with him yesterday. Big powerful winger, really bubbly personality, vibrant personality. So I want those kinds of characters in the team.