Feyi-Waboso’s Electrifying Return in Thrilling England vs France XV Clash
What a dramatic afternoon it was at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, where England’s youthful XV faced off against a determined French outfit in a high-intensity, non-cap international. And the headline everyone was watching? The return of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso — and what a rollercoaster that turned out to be.
After six long months of recovery following a dislocated shoulder and setbacks in training, the 22-year-old Exeter wing was back in an England shirt. Coach Steve Borthwick spoke earlier in the week about how hard it had been to rein in Feyi-Waboso’s energy during training. And true to form, he was full of fire when the game kicked off — maybe too much, as it turned out. His long-awaited comeback ended with a dramatic twist when his yellow card was upgraded in the bunker to a red, adding another layer to what was already a high-stakes return.
Before that moment, though, we saw flashes of why he’s one of England’s most exciting young talents. He carried with intent, brought urgency on the wing, and showed the same hunger that had earned him five tries in eight England games prior to his injury. He was shortlisted for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024 for good reason — and his presence alone lit up the pitch.
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But the game itself? A thriller. England’s young squad — including uncapped talents like Joe Carpenter, Seb Atkinson, and Guy Pepper — were tasked with stepping up in the absence of 13 British and Irish Lions players and several regulars nursing injuries. George Ford and Jamie George co-captained the side, steering a squad filled with fresh faces and renewed purpose.
It was a match filled with drama: tries traded back and forth, cards handed out, and ultimately, heartbreak for England. France snatched a last-gasp 26-24 win with Romain Taofifenua’s try deep in added time and a cool conversion from Matthieu Jalibert. It wasn’t a Test match by classification, but it had all the grit and glory of one — and definitely the heartbreak.
England looked like they had it wrapped up after some strong second-half performances, particularly from Alex Dombrandt off the bench and young Carpenter at fullback, who dotted down just before halftime. But France, even with a second-string squad missing key Top 14 stars, kept punching back. Paul Mallez’s late try set the stage, and England just couldn’t hold the line in the final moments.
Still, there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Borthwick got a valuable look at his depth chart ahead of the summer tour to Argentina and the U.S., and players like Pepper and Atkinson made a solid case for inclusion. And for Feyi-Waboso, despite the red card, this felt like the start of a new chapter — one filled with promise, pace, and potential redemption.
If this was just the warm-up, the summer ahead promises fireworks.
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