🔗 Share this article

It is a curious aspect of the English team's autumn perfect record that there were no debutants earned their international debut during the recent campaign, something not seen in 25 years. Yet, Max Ojomoh's showing against Argentina while earning his second cap seemed to be the breakthrough of a future star.

Standout Display in Hard-Fought Win

He proved to be the key player in what was England's most challenging outing of the November series. He scored the first try before creating the other two. The setup for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful cross-field kick was the champagne moment of the opening period. Similarly, his popped pass to the center for the team's final score was equally impressive, capping off a excellent first outing at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.

He has the sort of versatile skillset that every manager would want from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this campaign.

Rapid Rise and Future Prospects

Only a little over a week since the head coach could have believed he had discovered his centre partnership for the long term. But, the best compliment that can be paid to Ojomoh is that Borthwick may have to think again. Ojomoh was first called up to an national team four years ago, but had to bide his time until the last game of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Injuries to other players created the opportunity for him to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when the squad regroup to start their Six Nations campaign in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Excels at fly-half and midfield.
• Crucial Input: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Delivered when others were injured.

Team Background and Wider Significance

How would the team have been against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they had some fortune and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. England showed an natural decline in energy following a significant victory over New Zealand. Maybe the coach should have made more changes.

Some perspective is required, however. One might be inclined to lambast the side for their failure to bring much intensity into this match, or for nearly losing a game they were controlling. However, this outcome marks a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since 2016. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after beginning with a defeat. We are halfway through the four-year tournament plan and the situation look considerably rosier for the coach than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the World Cup, he knows the core group of the squad he will bring to Australia. Of course, there will be the surprise inclusion. Yet there are not many current members of the roster who are not on track for the upcoming event.

This is an advantage because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, preventing the difficult beginning that plagued the squad in the past.

Depth charts seem like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but managers rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, England might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching late defeat. The fact they avoided that owes plenty to Ojomoh, fortune, and the quality of England's substitutes. As the coach plans the route to the championship, he has positive momentum after 11 wins in a row, and as a result we can overlook the lack of quality of this performance.