🔗 Share this article

It is a curious feature of England's autumn clean sweep that there were no debutants made their first cap throughout 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

Ojomoh was the star turn in what was the team's least convincing outing of the November series. He finished off the first try before setting up the remaining two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a exquisite long pass was the highlight play of the opening period. Similarly, his popped pass to Henry Slade for England's final score was just as impressive, concluding a excellent first outing at Twickenham for the young player.

He has the kind of triple threat that every manager would want from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has featured at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for his club this season.

Rapid Rise and Future Prospects

It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the long term. However, the best compliment that can be paid to the young star is that the coach might need to reconsider. Ojomoh was first called up to an England squad previously, but had to bide his time until the final match of the summer tour to make his debut. Injuries to other players created the opportunity for him to start here, and he undoubtedly will be in consideration for a third cap when the squad reconvene to begin their Six Nations quest in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play fly-half and centre.
• Crucial Input: Scored one try and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Stepped up when teammates were unavailable.

Squad Context and Broader Implications

How would the team have been against Argentina without him? Certainly they had some fortune and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their best player. England showed an inevitable drop-off in intensity following a major win over New Zealand. Maybe Borthwick ought to have made more changes.

Some perspective is needed, though. It is tempting to lambast the side for their failure to bring much intensity into this contest, or for almost throwing away a game they were controlling. However, this outcome marks a clean sweep of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since recent years. 2025 concludes with 11 straight wins after beginning with a defeat. We are halfway through the World Cup cycle and things look much more positive for Borthwick than they did previously.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the World Cup, he understands the core group of the team he will take to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the surprise inclusion. But there are not many current members of the roster who are not on track for the 2027 tournament.

This is an advantage because it posed an issue for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it became apparent that veterans were not going to play in his plans. Borthwick seems to have grasped the nettle sooner, avoiding the difficult start that affected the team in the past.

Player rankings sound like they belong to seafarers of the past, but coaches swear by them and the coach can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. The fact they avoided that owes plenty to the young star, fortune, and the quality of England's substitutes. As Borthwick plans the route to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and therefore we can forgive the lack of quality of the recent display.