Nigerian-heritage wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso sparked a blistering start as England ran in seven tries to flatten Australia 45-22.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the England wing with Nigerian roots, brought the pace and finishing touch to a ruthless opening as England dismantled Australia 45-22 in the Nations Championship. The Wallabies had no answer to a side that attacked with purpose from the first phase.
England's opening move was a thing of beauty. They narrowly won the line-out, went down the blind side, and Maro Itoje's pack-mates did the heavy lifting: Ollie Chessum's bruising carry got the momentum rolling, with Ben Earl and Tom Curry adding more punch before the ball came back infield. Then Smith slipped a neat pass to Atkinson, who found Feyi-Waboso out on the right, and the finish looked clinical. The celebrations were short-lived, though. A forward pass from Curry to Chessum earlier in the sequence wiped it off, and the officials were right to call it.
It barely dented England's confidence. Henry Pollock grabbed two tries on a day when the hosts piled up seven in total, and the gap between the sides grew as the match wore on. Australia, who looked ragged and short of ideas, managed to score 22 of their own, but they were chasing shadows for long stretches.
For England, it is a statement result in this competition, built on powerful ball-carrying up front and slick distribution out wide. For fans following the diaspora talent lighting up world rugby, Feyi-Waboso's electric start is another reminder of what he brings to this England backline.
