🔗 Share this article

This marks a curious aspect of the English team's autumn perfect record that no new players made their first cap during the recent campaign, something not seen in 25 years. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against the Argentine side while securing his second cap seemed to be the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Display in Tight Victory

He proved to be the star turn in what was the team's most challenging outing of the autumn. He scored the first try before creating the remaining two. The setup for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful cross-field kick was the highlight play of the opening period. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for England's third try was equally eye-catching, concluding a excellent first outing at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.

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

Quick Ascent and Future Opportunities

Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the long term. However, the best compliment that can be paid to Ojomoh is that the coach might need to think again. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team four years ago, but had to bide his time until the final match of the overseas trip to make his debut. Injuries to teammates paved the way for Ojomoh to begin here, and he surely will be in consideration for a further appearance when the squad reconvene to begin their Six Nations campaign in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play number ten and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when others were injured.

Squad Background and Wider Implications

Where might England have been against Argentina without him? Certainly they had some fortune and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their best player. The team experienced an natural decline in intensity following a major win over New Zealand. Maybe Borthwick should have made more changes.

Some perspective is required, though. It is tempting to lambast the side for their inability to bring much urgency into this match, or for almost throwing away a fixture they were dominating. But, this outcome marks a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since 2016. The year concludes with 11 straight wins after beginning with a loss. The team is midway in the four-year tournament plan and the situation look considerably rosier for the coach than they did previously.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick appears that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he knows the vast majority of the team he will take to the host nation. Of course, there will be the surprise inclusion. Yet there are very few current members of the squad who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an benefit because it was a problem for his predecessor, who struggled when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have grasped the nettle sooner, avoiding the torrid beginning that affected the squad in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they are for sailors of the past, but managers rely on them and the coach can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be dealing with a loss after a heartbreaking narrow loss. That they were not is largely due to Ojomoh, fortune, and the quality of the substitutes. While Borthwick plots a course to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and as a result we can overlook the lack of quality of the recent display.