England legend backs Feyi-Waboso for 2025 Lions tour
SPOTLIGHT: Former England World Cup winner Jason Robinson backs Exeter Chiefs wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
This is despite the next fortnight being ‘massive’ for the England wing’s hopes of making the combined team’s squad.
The Exeter wing only made his Test debut in the 2024 Six Nations, with his international credentials set to be tested again during England’s showdown with Australia at Twickenham on Saturday and the following week against the World Champion Springboks.
The 21-year-old has made an impressive start to his England career, scoring five tries in seven Tests.
This feat includes three in consecutive clashes against New Zealand, with Feyi-Waboso again crossing the whitewash in this past weekend’s narrow 22-24 loss to New Zealand at Twickenham.
Former England and B&I Lions hero Robinson, said Feyi-Waboso possessed the qualities needed to make an impact during next year’s series in Australia.
“Manny’s [Immanuel Feyi-Waboso] not got the experience of a lot of players in his position but we’ve seen that for England and Exeter he is a game changer,” Robinson told reporters in London on Wednesday.
“He’s certainly one of those who could make an impact down in Australia. The way he finished off that try against the All Blacks on Saturday, not many players are able to do that. He’s young and he’s hungry. He’s really enjoying being there.”
The diminutive Feyi-Wabosob is a player in the Robinson mould, with the 50-year-old World Cup winner, speaking at the launch of the 2025 Lions kit saying:
“When he gets the ball, even if he doesn’t have space, he’s making metres.
“Every time he plays he’s up there with metres gained. He’s strong and gets over the gainline. His footwork and overall speed are gifts.”
Robinson added: “The next two weeks are massive for him, from an England perspective but also from his own perspective, because Australia and then South Africa will be a real test to see where he is on the international stage.”
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Australia are currently in a slump, having lost five of their six Rugby Championship matches this year under former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt – who took the reigns following a disastrous era under Eddie Jones which saw the Wallabies crash out of the pool stage for the first time in their history in the 2023 World Cup.
But Robinson, a star of the 2001 Lions tour of Australia, said: “Having played Australia over the years, as a rugby league and union player, I know they are proud nation.
“Sometimes when you write a team off it gives them even more motivation to prove those critics wrong.
“I think they’ll be a lot better than many people are giving them credit for. I think it will be really competitive.”
