Ojomoh Provides Champagne Highlight for England to Mark Emergence on Big Stage.
It is a interesting aspect of the English team's November clean sweep that no new players earned their international debut during the recent campaign, something not seen in 25 years. However, Max Ojomoh's display against the Argentine side while earning his second appearance felt like the arrival of a major talent.
Standout Performance in Tight Win
Ojomoh was the star turn in what was England's least convincing performance of the autumn. He scored the opening touchdown before setting up the remaining two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a exquisite cross-field kick was the champagne moment of the first half. Similarly, his quick offload to Henry Slade for England's final score was just as eye-catching, capping off a excellent first outing at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.
He has the sort of triple threat that all coaches would want from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at fly-half and at both centre positions for Bath this campaign.
Rapid Rise and Future Opportunities
Only eight days since the head coach could have believed he had finally unearthed his midfield duo for the long term. However, the best compliment that can be given to the young star is that the coach might need to think again. He was first called up to an national team four years ago, but had to wait until the final match of the overseas trip to make his debut. Injuries to teammates paved the way for him to begin here, and he surely will be in contention for a third cap when England reconvene to begin their championship quest in the coming months.
- Versatile Skillset: Can play number ten and centre.
- Crucial Input: Scored one try and assisted two.
- Important Performance: Delivered when others were injured.
Squad Background and Wider Implications
How would the team have been against Argentina without Ojomoh? Certainly they had some fortune and maybe it is not surprising that he was their standout performer. The team showed an inevitable drop-off in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Perhaps the coach ought to have freshened things up.
Some perspective is needed, though. One might be inclined to criticize the side for their failure to bring much intensity into this contest, or for nearly losing a game they were controlling. But, this result marks a perfect record of November matches for the initial occasion since 2016. 2025 ends with eleven consecutive victories after starting with a loss. The team is halfway through the World Cup cycle and the situation look much more positive for the coach than they did at this stage.
Squad Depth and Future Planning
The manager gives the impression that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he knows the vast majority of the squad he will take to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the surprise inclusion. Yet there are very few existing players of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.
That represents an benefit because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who struggled when it became apparent that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, preventing the difficult beginning that affected the squad in the past.
Depth charts sound like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but coaches rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, England might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching late defeat. That they were not owes plenty to Ojomoh, luck, and the strength of the substitutes. As the coach plots a course to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can overlook the paucity of the recent display.