Steve Borthwick has defended Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after a costly red card that leaves the winger’s place on England’s summer tour to Argentina and the USA in doubt.
Feyi-Waboso, now recovered from shoulder surgery, was picked to make his first appearance for club or country since December on Saturday as an England XV missing their large British and Irish Lions contingent lost 26-24 in agonising fashion to an experimental France team in an eventful non-cap international at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
Though he started the game well and almost registered an early try, the 22-year-old’s long-awaited return to action quickly turned into a disaster as, late in the first half, he received an initial yellow card for a dangerous high tackle on French fly-half Antoine Hastoy that was later upgraded to a 20-minute red following a bunker review.
Feyi-Waboso now faces an anxious wait to discover the length of a potential suspension, with Borthwick on Monday due to name his England squad for a two-Test tour to Lions conquerors Argentina and one-off meeting with the USA.
Borthwick - who expects to hear on Sunday about the player’s punishment - had sympathy for Feyi-Waboso, who may have seen the match against France as a chance to state his case for a late Lions call-up for the trip to Australia, but now may not play any international rugby this summer.
"You know Manny Feyi-Waboso well enough, this is a good guy who just tries his heart out and has left the field today and it didn't go the way he wanted it to, so he's gutted in the changing room," said Borthwick.
"Everyone will get around him and we'll find out about what the situation is in the next 24 hours."
Borthwick would not be drawn on the tackle itself, which earned the first of two red cards on the day, with France forward Cameron Woki also seeing a second-half yellow for an illegal clearout on Jamie George upgraded in the bunker.
"As you know, that's now going to go to a disciplinary procedure so I'm not going to comment upon it,” Borthwick added.
"The officials made their decision on the day and we'll see what the disciplinary comes back with. Once I have the facts, I'll deal with that."
After a last-gasp defeat by France XV sealed by Romain Taofifenua’s try, England face Argentina in the opening Test at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata on July 5.
The concluding Test takes place at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan on July 12, with Borthwick’s side then meeting the USA at Audi Field in Washington D.C. on July 19.
