Versatile back’s standout performance against Argentina on his second cap should give Borthwick a valuable option
It is a quirk of England’s November clean sweep that there were no debutants throughout an autumn campaign for the first time in 25 years but Max Ojomoh’s performance against Argentina when winning his second cap certainly felt like the arrival of the next big thing.
For Ojomoh was the star turn of England’s least convincing performance of the autumn, finishing off the first try before teeing up the other two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, a delightful cross-field kick, was the champagne moment of the first half and his popped pass to Henry Slade for England’s third was equally eye-catching, rounding off a fine first outing at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.
It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt that he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the future after Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Lawrence dovetailed superbly in victory over the All Blacks. The best compliment that can be paid to Ojomoh is that Borthwick may have to think again. He was first called up to an England squad four years ago but had to wait until the final match of the summer tour against the USA to make his debut. It took injuries to both Lawrence and Dingwall – whose withdrawal on Friday paved the way for Ojomoh to start here – but he surely will be in contention for a third when England regroup to begin their Six Nations campaign in the new year.
