"Manny's First Start" - 5 Talking Points: England Squad Announcement for Ireland Six Nations Clash
Rugby NewsThursday, 07 March 2024 at 16:29
England head coach Steve Borthwick has named his squad, to take on Ireland in the fourth round of the 2024 Six Nations. Borthwick and England captain Jamie George held a press conference today, at the team's training camp in Surrey. There were plenty of talking points from the conference, with players returning to the squad in time for the clash with Ireland.
Borthwick opened up the session by discussing his returning players, as a duo of halfbacks are eagerly anticipating their comeback to England action. Speaking on the returns of Alex Mitchell (knee injury) and Marcus Smith (calf injury), Borthwick also shone light on Fin Smith, who unfortunately missed out with a calf injury of his own.
Marcus Smith of England during the Summer Nations Series Rugby match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium on August 5, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
"The squad today, everyone was available and in contention for selection. It's great to Marcus' return to fitness and Mitch's. They were available for selection this week. Fin Smith took a knock in the Scotland game but trained fully today. That was his day back training today."
5 TALKING POINTS: STEVE BORTHWICK AND JAMIE GEORGE PRESS CONFERENCE PRE-IRELAND 2024 SIX NATIONS
1. MANNY FEYI-WABOSO GETS HIS FIRST ENGLAND START
An early area of discussion for Steve Borthwick, was his decision to name Manny Feyi-Waboso in the starting team for Saturday's fixture. This will be the first test start for the 21-year-old wing, who was amongst England's top performers against Scotland in his explosive replacement appearence against Scotland.
Feyi-Waboso has had a rather busy schedule as of late, as he had to depart England's camp in York to complete a medical exam for his University course at the University of Exeter. Nonetheless, the Exeter Chiefs man continues to impress his coaches and has been dutifully rewarded with his first England start.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso of Exeter Chiefs during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester Rugby at Sandy Park, Exeter on 19th Nov 2023. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
STEVE BORTHWICK: "He was full of gratitude. I don't know how many times he said thank you to me! We've seen that with players recently. Theo Dan was another one (playing National League rugby a year ago), a year after playing for Ampthill he was in the World Cup squad. We see these young players with incredible ability and determination.
"Each time you throw a challenge at these players, Manny, Theo, they just relish that challenge and jump right to it. We've seen Manny progress brilliantly in this Six Nations. He's earned this opportunity."
"The blend of players is important and Manny came on to the field two weeks ago and had incredible impact. He's a player who wants the ball, wants to carry and wants to get the team over the gain-line."
JAMIE GEORGE: "He’s ready, he’s more than ready. 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.
"His willingness to learn, he’s eager, you’re constantly having to pull him back, but he’s so excited for this opportunity, you can see that, and that energy is infectious throughout the team. And when young guys come in and have an impact like that it’s always very, very impressive."
2. ENGLAND PLAYERS FELT THE 'WEIGHT OF THE SHIRT' IN THE DEFEAT TO SCOTLAND
England suffered their first defeat of the Jamie George captaincy in their latest fixture, as they were handed a 30-21 defeat to Scotland up in Edinburgh. Both George and his head coach Borthwick recognised how the players felt the 'weight of the shirt' off the back of the defeat, and were disappointed by the series of errors they made up in Murrayfield.
STEVE BORTHWICK: "Continuity in selection is one very important factor and as we build this team and go forward, it's an important factor for consideration. We know that against Scotland there were errors. It's probably the first time in a while I'd seen the weight of the shirt feel heavy on the players.
"We've worked around that and to develop that. We made some errors and then as we made the errors, we started playing in a different way. You saw how we intended to play in the way we started. If you start deviating away from the way you want to play, that leads to more errors.
"I've made a couple of changes to the team but I believe in these players. I sense a determination in them to put in a performance this weekend and there has been ever since the end of that Scotland game. There was disappointment. A lot of players were disappointed with how they had gone. We all were. And so I sense a determination ever since that final whistle."
3. DANNY CARE GETS SET TO BECOME A CENTURION
Battle-tested halfback Danny Care has been named amongst the England replacements, and is eyeing up the opportunity to make his 100th test cap for his country. Alex Mitchell returns to the starting spot following his brief injury hiatus, that saw him miss out on the third round defeat to Scotland.
Jamie George and Steve Borthwick discussed how Danny Care was bestowed with a unique presentation earlier this week, as he gets set to break into triple figures for England. The Harlequin was presented with his original scouting report from when he was a young player, that Borthwick obtained during the recent England open training session in York.
JAMIE GEORGE: "There's nothing he hasn't already said himself (about himself). I'm incredibly proud of him as a mate. We're very close and he's had to work very hard to get to this milestone. He's been in and around this team a long, long time. He made his professional debut in 2003, which shocked me today when I heard about it. We did bit of a presentation for him.
"What an incredible guy, what ana amazing players. He's someone who has done incredible things for this English team a long, long time now. He deserves this moment and hopefully we can make it a special day for him.
STEVE BORTHWICK: "We were in York last week for an open session. Somebody handed to Richard Wigglesworth the national academy report for Danny Care when he was with the Under-18s. It was a genuine hand-written report. It said that he needed to work on his defence and needed more time in the gym to get a bit bigger!
"This was presented to him this morning. It also said for a player a player who will play for England many times. He's done so so well for many years and he's such an incredible influence around this squad now. We're very fortunate that we have him."
4. GEORGE FURBANK RETAINS HIS PLACE WITH NO SPACE FOR FREDDIE STEWARD
Borthwick has also named George Furbank at fullback, with the Northampton Saints man once again preferred over Freddie Steward. There is once again no space for the Leicester Tigers man in the match day 23, as Furbank has again been preferred after he opened up the scoring against Scotland. Speaking on the selection to keep Furbank in the squad, Borthwick said;
STEVE BORTHWICK: “Again, I consider one of the factors being continuity in selection. I think George is a player who has played really well all season. And I think you saw aspects within that game where, he was bringing all his talent onto that pitch. And you see him, the way he carried the ball back.
“The way, there was was one moment there where he gave an offload. And he went to ground, and the, crucial thing I went, was it the right decision to give an offload? I thought it absolutely was, just, we weren't reading it off him.
“And part of that is, players spending planning time playing together, understanding when a player is going to make an offload, when a player is going to do something. That's come from spending time together, playing together and understanding each other that bit more.”
5. ENGLAND'S SIX NATIONS RECORDS SINCE 2003 RUGBY WORLD CUP GLORY
The press conference became an impromptu history lesson, as Borthwick was asked for his thoughts on England's mixed bag of successes in the Six Nations Championships. England last won the title in 2020, but you have to rewind the clock back even further to 2016 and the start of the Eddie Jones era, to see England win the Grand Slam.
Borthwick believes his side can learn from the past when looking to the future, ahead of a monumental match-up this coming Saturday.
STEVE BORTHWICK; "Look at it in two ways, one, is looking at what we can learn from the past. So since 2003 I believe Ireland, Wales and France have won more championships than England. So there’s something not been done right for a consistent period of time.
Dylan Hartley (captain) of England with Triple Crown Trophy, after the Six Nations Championship match, between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, London , UK, on the 12th March 2016.- Photo mandatory by-line: Dean Lancaster/Pinnacle - Tel +44(0) 1363 881025 - Mobile 0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 12/03/2016 - SPORT - RUGBY - RBS Six Nations Championship - England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, London, UK.
"I’m always conscious of what we can learn going forward. What I can influence here is this team, and ensure that we build a team that will take the right steps now to get the team right for where we need it to be.
"Bringing young players through is an important aspect of that, continuity, development of players, ensuring we have the right coaching, all those are factors to making sure this team gets to where we want to go."
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