🔗 Share this article

This marks a interesting aspect of England's November clean sweep that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in 25 years. Yet, Max Ojomoh's showing against Argentina while earning his second cap felt like the arrival of a major talent.

Star Display in Hard-Fought Victory

Ojomoh was the key player in what was England's most challenging outing of the November series. He finished off the first try before creating the other two. His assist for his teammate via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the first half. Likewise, his quick offload to Henry Slade for England's final score was equally eye-catching, concluding a fine debut performance at Twickenham for the young player.

He has the sort of versatile skillset that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at number ten and at both centre positions for his club this campaign.

Rapid Ascent and Future Opportunities

Only eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the future. However, the best compliment that can be paid to the young star is that the coach may have to reconsider. He was initially selected to an England squad previously, but had to wait until the last game of the summer tour to make his debut. Injuries to teammates paved the way for him to start here, and he surely will be in consideration for a third cap when the squad reconvene to begin their Six Nations campaign in the new year.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Delivered when teammates were injured.

Squad Background and Broader Significance

Where might England have been against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they had some fortune and maybe it is not surprising that he was their standout performer. The team experienced an inevitable drop-off in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Maybe the coach should have made more changes.

A balanced view is required, however. It is tempting to criticize the side for their inability to bring much urgency into this contest, or for almost throwing away a game they were dominating. However, this result marks a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since 2016. The year concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a defeat. The team is midway in the World Cup cycle and things look considerably rosier for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Player Pool and Future Planning

The manager appears that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he understands the vast majority of the team he will take to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. But there are very few existing players of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it posed an issue for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that veterans were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have taken action sooner, avoiding the torrid start that affected the team in the previous cycle.

Player rankings seem like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but coaches rely on them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. On another day, England might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not is largely due to the young star, luck, and the strength of England's substitutes. As the coach plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can overlook the paucity of this performance.