🔗 Share this article

This marks a curious aspect of the English team's November clean sweep that no new players earned their first cap throughout the series of matches, something not seen in 25 years. However, Max Ojomoh's showing against Argentina while securing his second cap seemed to be the arrival of a major talent.

Star Performance in Hard-Fought Win

He proved to be the key player in what was England's most challenging outing of the autumn. He scored the opening touchdown before setting up the other two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful long pass was the highlight play of the opening period. Similarly, his quick offload to the center for England's third try was just as impressive, concluding a excellent debut performance at the home stadium for the young player.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of versatile skillset that every manager would want 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 season.

Rapid Ascent and Upcoming Opportunities

It is just a little over a week since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had discovered his midfield duo for the long term. But, the best compliment that can be given to Ojomoh is that Borthwick might need to reconsider. Ojomoh was first called up to an England squad previously, but had to wait until the last game of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to teammates created the opportunity for him to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a further appearance when the squad regroup to begin their championship quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at number ten and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Delivered when others were injured.

Team Context and Broader Implications

How would England have been against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they rode their luck and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. England showed an inevitable drop-off in energy following a significant victory over New Zealand. Maybe Borthwick should have freshened things up.

Some perspective is required, though. One might be inclined to lambast England for their failure to bring much intensity into this match, or for nearly losing a game they were dominating. However, this outcome completes a perfect record of November matches for the initial occasion since recent years. The year concludes with 11 straight wins after starting with a defeat. The team is halfway through the World Cup cycle and things look considerably rosier for Borthwick than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

Borthwick appears that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he knows the core group of the team he will take to the host nation. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. But there are not many existing players of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

That represents an benefit because it posed an issue for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have taken action sooner, avoiding the torrid start that affected the squad in the past.

Depth charts sound like they are for seafarers of yesteryear, but managers swear by them and the coach can be happy with his. On another day, the team might be dealing with a loss after a heartbreaking narrow loss. The fact they avoided that is largely due to Ojomoh, fortune, and the quality of England's substitutes. As the coach plans the route to the championship, he has positive momentum after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can overlook the paucity of this performance.