Sometimes, opinions can be formed on the basis of just a single moment.
It shouldn’t be that way, of course, but anyone who watched the former Wales, Ospreys and Neath centre Andrew Bishop making his senior rugby bow would have gone home that night knowing he could tackle. One hit on an opponent halted the said individual so emphatically the chap’s ancestors might have felt it.
You just knew at the time nothing much would get past Bishop over his career, and nor did it.
Of course, snap judgements don’t always work that way.
Shooting stars can crash to earth quickly.
But a stranger assessing the clip of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in action for Wasps against Newcastle Falcons in Tuesday evening’s Premiership Cup match in Coventry would have been quietly confident they were seeing a young player with uncommon talent.
His outing featured an episode for his highlights reel.
Collecting the ball near halfway, Feyi-Waboso, who joined Wasps from Cardiff Rugby in the summer, opened up a corridor of space with a step off his right foot that left the first would-be Newcastle tackler unable to even get close.
The 19-year-old then motored forward, veering in then out at high speed before a low tackle caused him to stumble. Falling to the ground, he still managed to brilliantly throw out a one-handed offload for team-mate Harry Craven to cross for a try.
It was a moment to remember from a player the highly respected Cardiff development boss Gruff Rees once described as “something pretty special” and a potential Wales international of the future.
There was more, too, from the Wasps No. 14 on the night.
CoventryLive’s Bobby Bridge noted how he’d been “awesome in defence, easily hunting down players who had managed to get in behind”.
The headline above the piece spoke of a 100mph start.
Unsurprisingly, Feyi-Waboso was voted player of the game in a poll organised by Wasps Rugby.
Doubtless, those who followed his development with Cardiff would not have expected anything less than for the teenager to shine.
The capital city club had tried desperately hard to hold onto him.
And he had been hoping to study medicine at Cardiff University and continue his progress at the Arms Park, having made his senior regional debut last year. But he failed to secure a place, despite achieving the three A* grades he required while studying at Clifton College in Bristol, having been on the reserve list.
The ex-Wales U18s three-quarter ended up taking a place to study his chosen subject at Aston University in Birmingham instead, subsequently linking with the senior Wasps academy.
He grew up in Llandaff, starting his rugby journey with Rumney RFC and progressing through Cardiff Schools and Cardiff Rugby’s age-grade sides. The former Corpus Christi and Clifton College pupil also excelled at athletics and particularly hurdles and high jump.
Penning a senior regional contract with Cardiff in 2021, he made his first appearance as a 17-year-old replacement wing against the Ospreys in the Rainbow Cup, before featuring in a friendly with Harlequins last September. You can read more about the 50 young talents who could be the future of Welsh rugby here.
Judging by his media interviews, the youngster born to Nigerian parents is also extremely articulate and bright.
There’s more than a fair chance we’ll be hearing much more of him.
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