| Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London Date: Saturday, 9 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds & BBC Radio Ulster; live text updates, report, reaction & highlights on BBC Sport website & app |
From staving off relegation in the third tier of English rugby to a first Test start in the Six Nations in under 18 months, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s rise to the top has been remarkable.
The medical student is a clinical try scorer, combining elusive footwork and power with frightening acceleration.
Feyi-Waboso, 21, is one of three changes in an England side tasked with denying Ireland the chance of claiming back-to-back Grand Slams when they meet at Twickenham on Saturday.
Head coach Steve Borthwick and the demanding home support will be hoping the Exeter wing’s selection can help spark England’s stuttering attack into life.
“Manny’s ready – he’s more than ready,” said England captain Jamie George. “You’ve seen that in the time he’s had on the field so far in the Six Nations.
“He’s an incredible talent, but the maturity we’ve seen from Manny is something that’s impressed me a lot.”
England carved through Scotland’s defence to score a well-worked George Furbank try in the early exchanges before losing momentum at Murrayfield in their last game.
The visitors began to concede too much possession, and with it the lead, before turning to Feyi-Waboso from the bench.
On only his second cap, he produced a moment of brilliance to come off his wing and run a hard line close to the breakdown to gallop over and open his international account.
It was the silver lining of a collectively disappointing performance and provided Borthwick and his staff with enough evidence that Feyi-Waboso should start against Ireland, despite missing England’s recent training camp in York to take a university exam.
“His willingness to learn, he’s eager, you’re constantly having to pull him back,” added George. “He’s so excited for this opportunity, you can see that, and that energy is infectious throughout the team.”
‘One of the most powerful people I have ever seen’
Team-mate for club and country Henry Slade has been astounded by Fewi-Waboso’s physical attributes that have helped him score seven tries in just 26 senior games.
“He is one of the most powerful people I have ever seen,” Slade told BBC Sport. “Some of the things he has done at Exeter and I have been this far away from it and I think – ‘how is that even possible?’
“When he has got the ball in his hands and is powering into contact he is pretty scary as he has got some real power and explosiveness.
“Get him the ball in space and he is going to be hard to defend whoever you are.”
Born in Cardiff, Feyi-Waboso made his first senior appearance for hometown side Blues after showing promise in the club’s academy and at age grade level for Wales.
Cardiff University’s decision not to award him a place to study medicine, however, would set in motion a journey from Wales’ red jersey to England’s Red Rose.
Feyi-Waboso is eligible to represent England through his ancestry. His father is half Nigerian and half English, while his paternal grandmother is from Gloucester.
Cardiff’s loss was Aston University’s gain, albeit it on a slightly different course, while his move to the Midlands led to a deal with Wasps.
But timing would intervene once more when, poised to make his Premiership debut, the Coventry-based club went into administration.
He then joined Exeter Chiefs, was loaned out to National One side Taunton Titans, and enrolled in Exeter University’s medical school.
Exeter’s rebuild this season gave Feyi-Waboso the chance to establish himself and he’s grabbed it with both hands.
