🔗 Share this article

It is a curious feature of the English team's autumn clean sweep that no new players earned their international debut throughout the series of matches, a scenario not seen in a quarter of a century. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against Argentina while earning his second appearance felt like the arrival of a future star.

Standout Display in Hard-Fought 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 setting up the other two. His assist for his teammate via a exquisite cross-field kick was the champagne moment of the opening period. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for the team's final score was equally impressive, capping off a excellent debut performance at the home stadium for the young player.

He has the kind of triple threat that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at fly-half and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this campaign.

Quick Ascent and Upcoming Prospects

Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the long term. However, the highest praise that can be paid to the young star is that the coach might need to reconsider. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team four years ago, but had to bide his time 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 consideration for a further appearance when the squad regroup to start their championship campaign in the new year.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at fly-half and midfield.
• Crucial Input: Scored one try and assisted two.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when teammates were injured.

Team Context and Wider Implications

How would the team have fared against their opponents without Ojomoh? Undoubtedly they had some fortune and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their best player. The team experienced an inevitable drop-off in energy following a significant victory over New Zealand. Perhaps the coach ought to have freshened things up.

A balanced view is required, however. It is tempting to criticize England for their failure to inject much intensity into this match, or for nearly losing a fixture they were controlling. But, this result completes a clean sweep of November matches for the first time since 2016. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a defeat. The team is halfway through the four-year tournament plan and the situation look considerably rosier for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

Borthwick gives the impression that, with time remaining from the global tournament, he understands the core group of the team he will take to Australia. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. But there are very few current members of the roster who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an advantage because it posed an issue for his preceding coach, who struggled when it was clear that veterans were not going to feature in his plans. He seems to have taken action earlier, preventing the difficult beginning that affected the team in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they are for seafarers of yesteryear, but managers rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. On another day, England might be nursing their wounds after a heartbreaking late defeat. That they were not owes plenty to the young star, fortune, and the strength of England's substitutes. While Borthwick 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.