It is a interesting aspect of the English team's November perfect record that there were no debutants earned their international debut throughout the series of matches, a scenario not seen in 25 years. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against Argentina while securing his second appearance felt like the arrival of a future star.
Ojomoh was the key player in what was England's most challenging performance of the autumn. He scored the first try before setting up the remaining two. His assist for his teammate via a exquisite cross-field kick was the highlight play of the opening period. Likewise, his quick offload to the center for the team's third try was just as eye-catching, concluding a excellent first outing at the home stadium for the young player.
He has the sort of versatile skillset that every manager would want from their inside-centre. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at fly-half and at multiple midfield roles for his club this season.
Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the future. But, the highest praise that can be paid to Ojomoh is that the coach might need to reconsider. Ojomoh was first called up to an national team previously, but had to bide his time until the last game of the summer tour to make his debut. Fitness issues to teammates created the opportunity for Ojomoh to begin here, and he surely will be in consideration for a third cap when England reconvene to start their championship campaign in the new year.
How would the team have been against Argentina without him? Undoubtedly they had some fortune 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. Maybe the coach ought to have freshened things up.
A balanced view is required, though. It is tempting to criticize the side for their failure to inject much intensity into this contest, or for nearly losing a fixture they were dominating. However, this outcome completes a perfect record of November matches for the initial occasion since 2016. The year ends with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a defeat. We are halfway through the four-year tournament plan and things look much more positive for the coach than they did at this stage.
The manager appears that, two years out from the World Cup, he understands the vast majority of the team he will take to Australia. Of course, there will be the surprise inclusion. But there are very few current members of the roster 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 became apparent that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, preventing the torrid beginning that plagued the team in the previous cycle.
Depth charts sound like they belong to sailors of the past, but managers rely on them and the coach can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, England might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not owes plenty to Ojomoh, luck, and the quality of England's bench. As the coach plots a course to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and as a result we can forgive the lack of quality of the recent display.
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