Max Ojomoh made a memorable debut for England at Allianz Stadium against Argentina on Sunday, delivering a man-of-the-match performance that showcased his skill and composure. Called up late as an inside centre replacement after Fraser Dingwall was sidelined with a side strain, the 25-year-old seized his opportunity by scoring a try and setting up two more.
Ojomoh’s display presents England head coach Steve Borthwick with a selection dilemma ahead of the Six Nations opener against Wales on February 7. The competition for the inside centre role has intensified, with Ojomoh, Dingwall, and Seb Atkinson all vying for the position that has long challenged England’s midfield stability.
“A year ago, people were talking about a centre crisis,” Ojomoh reflected. “Now, with Seb, Fraser, Ollie Lawrence, Luke Northmore, and many others coming through, the competition pushes everyone to perform at a higher level.”
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He acknowledged the quality of his rivals: “Seb and Fraser have been excellent recently, so I thought it was the right time to try something different.”
Ojomoh stressed the challenges of securing a spot: “Only the very best and the lucky get picked immediately, play well, and keep their place. It’s a highly competitive position with many contenders, so staying in form is essential.”
During the match, Ojomoh opened the scoring with a perfectly-timed finish in the 10th minute. His precision passing setup two further tries, assisting Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade. Feyi-Waboso sprinted in after catching Ojomoh’s pinpoint kick-pass, while Slade capitalized on an offload from Ojomoh that broke through the tackle.
“My favorite moment was the cross kick,” Ojomoh said. “I’ve never pulled that off in the Premiership before. I tried a few during penalty advantages but usually messed them up. It was great to connect, especially to Manny, who scored from it.”
He added, “The offload to Sladey was a bit of a gamble, thinking ‘nothing to lose’. I’m glad it worked out.”
England’s victory marked their 11th consecutive win, earning momentum as they head into the Six Nations as strong contenders. Reflecting on the team’s progress, Ojomoh said, “I’m proud to be part of this well-gelled squad. Securing four wins in four matches this autumn is a fantastic way to finish the year.”