England's Six Nations campaign faces a setback as star winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is ruled out due to a leg injury. The Exeter Chiefs player, who was set to start on the right wing, has been replaced by Tom Roebuck in the starting lineup. Despite the setback, Feyi-Waboso's recovery is expected to be swift, with him potentially returning for the match against Scotland in round two. This is not the first time Feyi-Waboso has faced injury concerns this season, having previously missed Exeter's opening PREM Rugby Cup fixtures and being substituted early in the second half against Northampton Saints. The winger's recent shoulder issue in December 2024 also kept him out of the British and Irish Lions tour. However, he has since made a strong comeback, featuring in seven matches for Exeter and all four Autumn Nations Series Tests. Assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth expressed confidence in Feyi-Waboso's recovery, highlighting his eagerness to improve and take feedback well. The England team's back-three includes Freddie Steward, Henry Arundell, and Tom Roebuck, while Tommy Freeman and Fraser Dingwall take up the center positions. George Ford and Alex Mitchell form the half-back partnership, with Ford at fly-half and Mitchell at scrum-half. In the pack, Ben Earl is named at number eight, with Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper on the flanks. Ollie Chessum and Alex Coles start at lock, while Joe Heyes, captain Jamie George, and Ellis Genge form the front row. Steve Borthwick's team also boasts a strong bench, featuring Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, and Marcus Smith. The England vs. Wales match is set for February 7 at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with a 16:40 GMT kickoff. The referee will be Pierre Brousset, with assistant referees Nic Berry and Morné Ferreira, and TMO Tual Trainini.
