Six Nations 2026: England lose Emmanuel Feyi-Wabuso to injury in Wales’ opener

Harrison says Roebuck will not be in a rush to return to action, and is confident the switch will not negatively impact England’s prospects.

“In an ideal world we would have given him an extra week, but the world is not ideal as we know it,” Harrison said.

“We do a really good job of what ifs and what might happen and combinations.

“Does it disrupt some plans? Yes, because it changes the player. But we did everything we could to make sure the next player was ready.”

For Exeter Chiefs’ Fi-Wabuso, this is the second time an injury has affected his Six Nations hopes.

He was shortlisted for the 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year award, and a shoulder injury meant he missed last year’s competition.

He made his return to rugby for England A’s match against France but was shown a red card for a high shot on Antoine Hastoy.

The ban ruled him out of two Tests against Argentina in the summer, but he returned to the starting lineup against the United States in July.

Aiming to win their first Six Nations title in six years, England go into the competition on the back of an 11-win run and their first unbeaten four-Test autumn in nearly a decade.