England dealt major double injury blow ahead of Japan showdown
SQUAD UPDATE: England have suffered a double injury setback ahead of their Nations Championship Round Five clash against Japan, with head coach Steve Borthwick forced to make six changes to his squad.
Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and flanker Tom Curry have both been ruled out for the remainder of the competition, dealing England a significant blow heading into the weekend’s encounter at Allianz Stadium.
Feyi-Waboso was in impressive form during England’s 45-22 victory over Australia on Sunday, producing several dangerous runs and playing a key role in putting his side in the driving seat.
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The winger was denied a try just two minutes into the match, but his afternoon was cut short after he suffered an ankle injury following an illegal knee-drop tackle by Australia prop Angus Bell.
Feyi-Waboso played until half-time before being replaced by Henry Pollock.
Meanwhile, Curry sustained a hip injury during a training session at Pennyhill Park ahead of the Australia encounter.
The injury list does not end there, with Ollie Chessum (shoulder), Seb Atkinson (hip) and George Furbank (groin) also withdrawing from the squad preparing to face Japan this weekend.
The return to fitness of Archie McParland has also prompted a change to England’s scrumhalf stocks, with Harry Randall no longer required.
Borthwick has turned to the England A squad for reinforcements, calling up two standout performers from Friday night’s impressive 59-24 victory over Argentina XV at The Rec.
Noah Caluori and Max Ojomoh have both earned promotions to the senior squad.
Caluori crossed for a brace, while Ojomoh impressed with his distribution and also got his name on the scoresheet at his home ground.
Back-rowers Max Hicks and Jack Cunningham have been brought in to provide cover for Chessum and Curry, while Tobias Elliott, who also featured for England A, joins his Saracens teammate Caluori in the updated squad.
England squad:
Forwards: Fin Baxter, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Max Hicks, Maro Itoje, Emmanuel Iyogun, Jack Kenningham, George Martin, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart.
Backs: Noah Caluori, Fraser Dingwall, Tobias Elliott, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Will Joseph, Joe Marchant, Cadan Murley, Archie McParland, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet
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