England fielded its first-choice back three in two years during Sunday’s victory over Australia, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso at 11, Tommy Freeman at 14, and George Furbank at 15. The alignment provided coach Steve Borthwick a rare opportunity to assess the combination before injuries struck the group.
Feyi-Waboso sustained an ankle injury that will end his participation in the autumn campaign. Furbank developed a groin issue that sidelines him against Japan, while Freeman may rest ahead of upcoming matches. The injuries underscore a persistent challenge for England’s coaching staff in maintaining the back three’s availability.
Feyi-Waboso demonstrated significant impact during his 40 minutes on the pitch against Australia, accumulating 130 metres from eight carries. He has appeared in only 17 of England’s 36 matches since his debut in early 2024, with previous injuries including a hamstring problem and shoulder issues limiting his availability. Furbank returned to action for the first time since autumn 2024, having missed the interim period due to appendicitis and other injury complications. Freeman transitioned back to the right wing position after a period deployed at outside-centre.
Borthwick’s vision centers on combining Furbank’s playmaking ability at full-back with Freeman’s consistency and Feyi-Waboso’s attacking threat. The trio’s successful performance against Australia provided evidence of their potential, though their injury history raises concerns about maintaining fitness through the competitive calendar. With approximately 11 months before England’s World Cup opener against Tonga, the coaching staff faces the challenge of protecting this combination from further setbacks while developing match cohesion.
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