England hopeful nearing return in welcome boost for Steve Borthwick

Exeter back-rower Greg Fisilau is nearing a return to action, in a major boost to both the Chiefs and England looking towards the Nations Championship tour. 

The Test hopeful has not featured for the Devonians since picking up a knee injury in their defeat to Gloucester, and was one of eight players not considered for selection for England’s recent three-day alignment camp.

Prior to his injury, the Plymouth-native was a stalwart in the Chiefs’ starting XV, with 19 of his 21 appearances for the club this season coming in the run-on group.

‘It’s fantastic to have him back’

His enforced absence came as a major blow to the Chiefs, who lost two of the three games in that time, but he is nearing a return to the pitch.

“We’re close to getting Greg back as well,” said Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter. “He’s close to full training now, so that gives us the chance to keep assessing him towards the tail end of the week.

“Without doubt, he’s a very good player and whenever you have good players available it’s good news for the side; but over the past two or three years he’s been our Mr Consistency when it comes to ball carries, quality of carries, getting us momentum and defensive shift.

“He’s one of those guys who just gets on with things, but while he’s just getting on with things, he’ll also have three or four highlight moments in a game as well.

This will also come as a welcome boost for England boss Steve Borthwick, too, who is currently without 13 senior players through injury. Of that contingent, Ben Curry is expected to miss the summer tour with a hamstring injury, while Sam Underhill is also a doubt after missing the recent three-day alignment camp last week with a knock.

The continued absence of Tom Willis also leaves a gap in the number eight stocks, which Fisilau had seemed to fill during the Six Nations despite not making a single Test appearance that campaign.

Borthwick will name his extended squad for the three-Test series against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina next month.

Fisilau’s impact in the Exeter team cannot be overstated, either. At the time of writing, the back-rower sits sixth in the PREM for carries (160), third for gainline carries (82), both of which are also club-highs, and sixth for tackles (180). He is only bested by Dafydd Jenkins at Exeter in that department.

“He’s got a natural talent for it, but he also does train hard,” Baxter said. “If you go into the gym, he’ll be the guy sweating it out and going hard or he’ll be back in the gym later in the day to get some extras done.

“His ability to move at speed but with footwork is big for him, because he’s got agility in the carry as well as power and speed. The combination of those things makes him hard to put down.

“Let’s face it, he’s also physically tough. You’ve got to be tough to want to run into people on a regular basis.”

His form at club level has once again seen him thrust into the Test picture, starting for England A in both of their Tests back in November, before later being drafted into the extended senior squad for the Six Nations, but Baxter was keen to stress his time with England has not taken his focus off club stuff.

“Greg’s Greg, and he’s good when he gets on and does what Greg Fisilau does,” he said.

“Guys get involved with international camps because they’re good players, and the single-most important thing to remember when you go back to your club is you got selected for your form at club, so you have to focus on that; and Greg does that very well.”

“It’s fantastic to have him back, it’s really positive for us.”