🔗 Share this article

It is a curious aspect of the English team's autumn perfect record that no new players made their first cap throughout the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in 25 years. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against Argentina while earning his second appearance seemed to be the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Display in Tight Win

He proved to be the star turn in what was England's least convincing outing of the November series. He scored the opening touchdown before creating the other two. The setup for his teammate via a delightful 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 fine debut performance at Twickenham for the young player.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of triple threat that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has featured at fly-half and at both centre positions for Bath this campaign.

Rapid Rise and Upcoming Opportunities

Only eight days since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the long term. However, the highest praise that can be paid to the young star 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 summer tour to make his debut. Fitness issues to other players created the opportunity for him to start here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when the squad reconvene to begin their championship quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at fly-half and centre.
• Crucial Input: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when teammates were unavailable.

Team Background and Wider Implications

Where might the team have been against their opponents without him? Undoubtedly they rode their luck and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. England showed an natural decline in intensity following a major win over the All Blacks. Perhaps Borthwick should have made more changes.

Some perspective is required, though. It is tempting to lambast England for their failure to inject much intensity into this contest, or for nearly losing a fixture they were controlling. However, this result marks a clean sweep of November matches for the initial occasion since recent years. The year concludes with 11 straight wins after beginning with a defeat. The team is halfway through the four-year tournament plan and things look considerably rosier for the coach than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

The manager appears that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he understands the core group of the team he will bring to Australia. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are very few current members of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his predecessor, who found it difficult when it was clear that veterans were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have taken action earlier, avoiding the torrid start that plagued the team in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they belong to sailors of the past, but coaches rely on them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. On another day, the team might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not is largely due to the young star, fortune, and the strength of England's substitutes. As Borthwick plots a course to the Six Nations, 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 this performance.