England beat Australia 45-22 but injuries to two stars cloud Japan test

England’s emphatic 45-22 victory over the Wallabies at Twickenham silenced rumours of a player-coach rift, but it came with a heavy price tag. Steve Borthwick’s side produced their most potent offensive display against Australia in history, yet the mood was dampened by injuries to key stars Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Seb Atkinson. According to the BBC, the win was a deliberate response to a Times report earlier in the week that claimed a disconnect had opened between the players and their coach ^[1].

Borthwick had promised proof on the pitch, and his team delivered in style. The energy was palpable, with captain Maro Itoje leading from the front and Henry Slade making lung-busting defensive efforts. However, the shine was taken off the performance when Feyi-Waboso, who had been electric in the first half, was forced off with an ankle injury after a hip-drop tackle by Angus Bell, who received a yellow card. The Independent reported that Feyi-Waboso did not re-emerge after the interval, leaving England’s coaching staff concerned about the severity of the damage ^[2].

Centre Seb Atkinson also required medical attention, being helped off in the second half with an apparent hip complaint. While Borthwick offered a more hopeful assessment for Atkinson, stating it looked like bruising rather than long-term damage, he admitted it was too early to confirm his availability for next week’s match against Japan. “Manny needs a little bit more investigation, we don’t quite know,” Borthwick told reporters, noting the jump from club to international intensity ^[2].

The injury scare is particularly worrying given the upcoming challenge against New Zealand. Feyi-Waboso had been a standout, making 113 metres from eight carries and beating seven defenders in just 40 minutes of action ^[1]. His absence, along with Atkinson’s, forces Borthwick to consider alternative options like Cadan Murley or Noah Caluori for the wing, or Fraser Dingwall for centre.

Henry Pollock stepped in admirably, scoring two tries in his cameo, but his role is seen as a stop-gap rather than a long-term solution. The bench also provided stability, with an all-Lions front row helping to maintain dominance. Despite the victory, the focus now shifts to the medical room. As England prepares for Japan, the fear is that the cost of this win may be felt in the weeks to come. The team’s ability to balance explosive energy with physical resilience will be tested further, but for now, the priority is ensuring their star players are fit enough to continue the momentum.