WORLD OF RUGBY: Wales and England face an international tug-of-war over Immanuel Feyi-Waboso… but if Steve Borthwick can sway the Welsh-born winger the system is BROKEN

What is certain is that Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will – probably very soon – play international rugby. What is less certain is whether Exeter's excellent rookie wing will represent Wales or England.

The 21-year-old's Man of the Match performance in Chiefs' win over Bristol last Friday night at a packed Ashton Gate only served to further fuel the growing hype surrounding him – and the intrigue over his international intentions was strengthened. After scoring a stunning try and demonstrating that he already has a phenomenal repertoire in attack and defence, Feyi-Waboso was decidedly coy when asked about his Test prospects.

A month ago, the new Cardiff sensation revealed he had had no contact from Wales or England – whoever he is eligible for. In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Feyi-Waboso was asked if the situation had changed and his response was literally: 'Uh… hahaha… I don't know. Don't know. Don't know. Don't know.' He continued, “I have no say in the matter.”

It is clear that contact has been made and a call will be coming soon. It will definitely be Wales. It is the country of his birth and he has already trained with the senior team. The precocious tyro sounds Welsh, he feels Welsh and he is Welsh. Until medical studies prompted a cross-border move, Feyi-Waboso learned to play in the Welsh system, before Wasps and now Exeter started applying professional polish.

Even a neutral suggestion that he should make a choice drew outrage from Welsh fans desperate to claim him as one of their own, which he certainly is. But in situations like this, the player does have a choice and for some of them – although not necessarily Feyi-Waboso – it can be a complex equation. People want it to be all about a sense of national identity and indigenous passion, but there are several factors.

The Welsh-born winger will certainly accept a call-up from Warren Gatland's side when it inevitably comes.

These days there is a lot of movement between countries, which is particularly relevant to rugby in these parts, where four leading countries are so close together. It comes down to opportunity, to maximize the chances of career advancement. There are fewer contenders for every Test spot in Wales and especially in Scotland, where Sale's homegrown trio of Tom Roebuck, Gus Warr and Arron Reed are in high demand. Playing style is another point to consider, especially for a wing.

But like it or not, there are also financial factors. England can offer lucrative terms and that cannot be ignored by those with multiple suitors. While the rest of us hope it doesn't come down to a business decision, some pragmatism is inevitable. Careers are short and international accolades allow players to raise their profiles, support their families and challenge themselves among the elite.

It could be a calculation. Players have the right to choose their path, but those who cherish the concept and essence of international sport will hope that the heart prevails over the head, if eligibility extends to more than one country. And the public has the right to be involved or not; to be postponed to buy tickets and replica shirts or not, if the concept gets twisted.

It is a shock when gifted players who have come through the path and slogged to the top, dreaming of their big chance, find Test slots blocked by imports. There was the Granny-gate scandal in Wales and the so-called 'kilted Kiwis' in Scotland. More recently we have had the specter of the dreaded 'project player', as countries abroad have gone on a headhunting spree.

But England could offer the 21-year-old financial incentives that could sway his decision

This column has often complained about this cynical process, which is different from singling out those who arrive in a country as a result of economic migration. The eligibility criteria have been tightened and that is good news. Frankly, those in power should also abolish the grandparent qualification. Simply base eligibility on birth, parental nationality, or at least five years of residency; that is it.

Anyway, after digressing, back to Feyi-Waboso. He is becoming a player and Exeter is doing an excellent job of refining his multi-dimensional potential. He gave a glorious display of his running and finishing skills at Bristol, but what will appeal to Warren Gatland (and Steve Borthwick) is that he also showed he can tackle – hard, carry – kick hard, sharply and run the game to follow.

Of course there are still some rough edges, but this is a rare talent, destined for the heights. Good luck to him. If we see him in a Wales shirt soon it will be an exciting sight – and it will feel good.

Furbank has Northampton on offer

Northampton sit at the top of the Premier League and have been on a roll since George Furbank took over as captain, with nine wins from nine games under his command. The full-back's latest stellar performance – which saw him score one try and force a penalty try, helping the Saints beat title rivals Sale – was further evidence that he is now operating to a true, consistent international standard.

After being thrown into the deep end against France in Paris for a fearsome Test debut in 2020, the 27-year-old is now confident, authoritative and well and truly ready for further recognition in England.

“Captaincy has helped get the best out of me,” he said. 'It gets me going and gives me that little bit of extra energy to be at the forefront with my actions. It has given me some responsibility to know that if I don't lead with actions, the boys won't follow. I need to be in a place where I can do that.” Furbank is in the right place to continue to manage Saints and also play in the Six Nations.

George Furbank has made a flying start as captain at Northampton, taking the team to the top of the Premier League

Quins create a Big Game atmosphere

Big Game 15 was a suitably grand affair in front of nearly 77,000 spectators at Twickenham and much credit goes – once again – to Harlequins for staging a dazzling festive extravaganza. The spectacular light show and DJ set before kick-off added to the atmosphere and while such things can't happen every week, professional rugby across all grounds needs more of this innovation to broaden its appeal.

The stage, sound and color seem to have an impact on the protagonists as these matches are rarely mundane and in the last occasion Quins defeated Gloucester 32-26 in a nine-try thriller. Danny Care was the man who struck to secure a bonus point for the hosts, having played in all fifteen major matches over the years. It is fitting that the scrum half is a fixture at this annual event as he is a true showman who lights up proceedings with his infectious positive energy.

Care is and will always be a quality player with a quality mentality. Good luck to whoever one day tries to take over the role of his long-term successor in the Quins No 9 shirt, with an act impossible to follow.

Harlequins provided an atmosphere to match the quality on display at Twickenham

Could Genge be England captain?

Ellis Genge sat next to Steve Borthwick in Ashton Gate on Friday evening, deep in conversation. It may be that the England head coach simply wanted some local input during his visit to Bristol, but images of the pair side by side led to speculation that Genge is in line to captain the Red Rose.

Time will tell, but a potential barrier to his appointment appeared to be uncertainty over his place in the loose pecking order, and Borthwick appears to be facing a growing crisis on the left of the front row. Joe Marler left the pitch before half-time at Twickenham with a suspected arm injury, while Mako Vunipola's red card in Saracens' win over Newcastle could lead to a suspension for the experienced Lion.

Sale's Bevan Rodd is expected to be out until March after toe surgery and Gloucester's Val Rapava Ruskin is recovering from knee surgery. Genge himself has been sidelined with a hamstring injury but is expected to return before the Six Nations and if he does he could be England's No.1 and captain. Who would study him too little is a mystery at this stage…

Ellis Genge could be groomed by Steve Borthwick as a future England captain

Kitmen offer a look behind the scenes

Final word – This column has developed a strange fascination with social media posts from kitmen, showing dressing rooms after being prepared for matches, with well-ironed shirts all hung up, ready to be worn.

What this niche interest (potentially OCD related) does provide is an indirect way of assessing the facilities for teams to prepare for competitions, and there is wide variation in standard. Many clubs are still not at a professional level when it comes to this important behind-the-scenes aspect. There will be no naming and shaming for now, but it was noticeable how spacious and smart the dressing area was for Gloucester on their recent trip to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, to take on Black Lion in the Challenge Cup.

There is now a similarly impressive line-up at Saracens, in the new stand at StoneX Stadium, but significant investment is needed elsewhere. Isn't it reasonable for players to expect some space and comfort to rest their aching bodies, shower and change after 80 minutes of battering each other? If the minimum standards had been properly applied, this issue would have been resolved long ago.