He has not even completed a full year as an England player, but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has already made such a telling impact that his absence from the Six Nations represents a savage setback for Steve Borthwick.
The 22-year-old Exeter wing has rapidly emerged as a game-changing, match-winning asset for the national team since head coach Borthwick picked him for last season’s competition.
Feyi-Waboso just looks to the manner born. He looks like he belongs in international rugby and he looks like he is going to illuminate it for many years, scoring a stack of tries in the process.
There have been so many glorious glimpses of a dazzling repertoire. Feyi-Waboso touched down five times in his first eight Test appearances, after pledging allegiance to England over the land of his birth, Wales.
Notably, he was able to strike in three successive fixtures against the All Blacks; two in July and one in November, to showcase his pace and footwork, his spacial awareness and his power in contact. He has also demonstrated that he is a brave, tenacious defender.
There was an explosive first try against Scotland at Murrayfield last February and, in England’s next match, Feyi-Waboso had a key role in an epic win against Ireland at Twickenham which remains the only statement result of Borthwick’s tenure to date.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out of the 2025 Six Nations due to a shoulder injury
Feyi-Waboso dislocated his shoulder before Christmas while representing Exeter Chiefs
He hasn’t even had a year with England yet his absence is a major blow to Steve Borthwick
The newcomer’s late break set the wheels in motion for the drop goal by Marcus Smith which brought the house down and clinched a 23-22 upset victory against the eventual title-winners.
Borthwick is not a selection gambler by nature but he has swiftly identified that this exciting tyro deserves to be a fixture in his side.
Unfortunately, the early stages of his Test career have been punctuated by injury trouble. Concussion ruled him out of last year’s Six Nations finale against France and a similar issue cut short his involvement in the recent Autumn Nations Series.
So, how will Borthwick respond? His plans are unravelling in a hurry, certainly in the back three.
First-choice full back George Furbank is set to miss at least the first two games — against Ireland in Dublin and the home clash with France — with a broken arm, and now this. It is not ideal. At all.
In theory, the next cab off the rank out wide is Northampton wing Ollie Sleightholme, but he was stood down from the Premiership clash with league leaders Bath on Sunday.
Phil Dowson, Saints’ director of rugby, said: ‘He felt his hamstring tighten up. One of the things that blighted him early in his career was soft-tissue stuff. We are always very conscious of it and manage him appropriately, so we pulled him out of the game.
‘I don’t think it’s too bad but before (he has) scans and a couple of days to feel how it is before he opens up again, I can’t tell you how bad it is.’
Feyi-Waboso has already shown early in his career that he belongs on the international stage
Borthwick is up against it, with first choice full-back George Furbank also currently absent
The injury may impact Feyi-Waboso’s Lions hopes, but head coach Andy Farrell could still conclude the winger and his X-factor talent is too good to ignore despite limited experience
If there is any doubt about the availability of Sleightholme, Sale’s Tom Roebuck could be another candidate to start on the wing.
He scored his first Test try against Japan in November in a promising cameo and his aerial prowess is increasingly working in his favour, amid a crackdown by officials on so-called ‘escort’ runners.
Feyi-Waboso was left to consider the best course of action himself and it is to Borthwick’s credit that, armed with the trump card of the Professional Game Partnership deal, which gives him the final say over medical matters, he has not sought to force through a decision to go for rehab and play on.
Instead, student doctor Feyi- Waboso has evidently made a sensible decision with his long-term welfare in mind.
In the short term, it will deprive him of more England caps, but there will be plenty of those in the months and years ahead. Beyond the Six Nations, it means he can be at full throttle for the business end of Exeter’s season and a summer tour.
He has already done enough to emerge as a contender for the Lions tour of Australia. Ideally, head coach Andy Farrell would have wanted further evidence from the annual championship, or marquee league and Champions Cup fixtures, which the Chiefs won’t be part of.
But Feyi-Waboso is a rare, X-factor talent and Farrell may still conclude that he is too good to ignore.