🔗 Share this article

It is a curious feature of England's autumn perfect record that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, something not seen in a quarter of a century. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against the Argentine side while securing his second appearance seemed to be the breakthrough of a major talent.

Star Display in Tight Win

He proved to be the key player in what was the team's most challenging outing of the autumn. He finished off the first try before setting up the remaining 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 just as eye-catching, capping off a fine debut performance at the home stadium for the 25-year-old.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of triple threat that all coaches desire from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at number ten and at both centre positions for his club this campaign.

Rapid Rise and Upcoming Opportunities

It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the future. But, the highest praise that can be given to the young star is that Borthwick might need to reconsider. He was initially selected to an England squad previously, but had to bide his time until the final match of the summer tour to earn his first cap. Injuries to teammates paved the way for him to begin here, and he surely will be in contention for a further appearance when England regroup to begin their championship quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at number ten and midfield.
• Crucial Input: Notched a touchdown and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Stepped up when others were unavailable.

Squad Background and Broader Implications

How would the team have fared against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they rode their luck and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their best player. The team showed an inevitable drop-off in intensity following a significant victory over New Zealand. Perhaps the coach ought to have made more changes.

A balanced view is needed, however. It is tempting to lambast the side for their failure to bring much urgency into this contest, or for almost throwing away a game they were controlling. However, this result completes a clean sweep of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since 2016. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after beginning with a loss. We are halfway through the World Cup cycle and things look considerably rosier for the coach than they did at this stage.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the global tournament, he knows the core group of the team he will take to Australia. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are not many current members of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

That represents an benefit because it posed an issue for his predecessor, who found it difficult when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have grasped the nettle sooner, avoiding the torrid start that plagued the team in the previous cycle.

Depth charts seem like they are for seafarers of the past, but coaches rely on them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. On another day, England might be dealing with a loss after a heartbreaking late defeat. That they were not owes plenty to the young star, fortune, and the strength of the bench. While the coach plots a course to the championship, he has positive momentum after 11 wins in a row, and therefore we can overlook the paucity of the recent display.