🔗 Share this article

This marks a interesting aspect of the English team's autumn clean sweep that there were no debutants made their international debut during the recent campaign, something not seen in 25 years. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against the Argentine side while earning his second cap felt like the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Display in Hard-Fought Victory

He proved to be the key player in what was the team's most challenging outing of the autumn. He finished off the first try before setting up the other two. The setup for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the opening period. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for the team's third try was just as eye-catching, capping off a fine first outing at the home stadium for the 25-year-old.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of triple threat that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has featured at fly-half and at both centre positions for his club this campaign.

Rapid Rise and Future Opportunities

Only eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the long term. But, the best compliment that can be paid to Ojomoh is that the coach may have to reconsider. Ojomoh was first called up to an England squad four years ago, but had to wait until the final match of the summer tour to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to teammates created the opportunity for him to start here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when England reconvene to begin their Six Nations quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when teammates were unavailable.

Squad Context and Broader Implications

Where might the team have been against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they rode their luck and perhaps it is not surprising that he was their best player. England experienced an inevitable drop-off in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Maybe the coach should have freshened things up.

Some perspective is needed, however. One might be inclined to criticize England for their inability to bring much urgency into this match, or for nearly losing a fixture they were controlling. However, this result marks a clean sweep of November matches for the first time since 2016. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after starting with a loss. The team is midway in the four-year tournament plan and things look considerably rosier for the coach than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the World Cup, he knows the core group of the squad he will bring to the host nation. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are very few existing players of the squad who are not on track for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that veterans were not going to feature in his plans. He seems to have taken action sooner, avoiding the difficult start that affected the team in the previous cycle.

Player rankings sound like they are for seafarers of yesteryear, but managers rely on them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. On another day, England might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching late defeat. That they were not is largely due to Ojomoh, fortune, and the quality of England's substitutes. While the coach plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and therefore we can forgive the paucity of this performance.