England's back line is facing a reshuffle, but a new star is ready to shine!
It seems England's plans for their back three are in jeopardy just before their Saturday showdown with Fiji. However, there's a silver lining: the emergence of a player already being hailed as the 'new Jason Robinson.'
Wing Tom Roebuck and full-back Freddie Steward are major injury concerns for the upcoming match at Allianz Stadium. This situation has prevented coach Steve Borthwick from announcing his team as scheduled. Steward is dealing with a hand issue and hasn't trained this week, while Roebuck suffered an ankle injury during Tuesday's session. Both players are racing against the clock, with their fitness to be assessed by Thursday.
Should Steward and Roebuck be ruled out, Marcus Smith is expected to step in at full-back, and Henry Arundell could take a wing position, marking his first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup bronze final. This could lead to an exciting back three, completed by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the Exeter speedster. England is eager to utilize Feyi-Waboso more effectively after he saw limited action in the 25-7 victory against Australia.
During the match against the Wallabies, Feyi-Waboso's impressive runs earned him comparisons to the legendary Jason Robinson, a comparison made by Kevin Sinfield. Robinson, known as 'Billy Whizz,' played 51 times for England from 2001 to 2007, celebrated for his remarkable footwork and speed. Sinfield, who played for Leeds and Great Britain, faced Robinson earlier in his career.
"Manny reminds me a lot of Jason Robinson," Sinfield said. "I don’t think I have come across anybody as powerful, or anybody as explosive over that first couple of metres as Manny. Jason is probably the most similar player we have got – his ability to pull through tackles, the strength in his hips. There aren’t many players like that."
Feyi-Waboso welcomes the comparison ahead of the second of four Tests at Twickenham this month. He has also expressed his admiration for Robinson, stating, "I have watched some highlights of Jason and it’s crazy. Anything that compares me to him is massive… I’d love to be half the player he was with his pace and power."
Feyi-Waboso is determined to be more involved against Fiji, aiming to seek out the ball more actively.
But here's where it gets controversial... Could Feyi-Waboso truly live up to the legacy of Jason Robinson? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
