Bath centre Max Ojomoh is set for a monumental Twickenham debut in an England jersey this Sunday, after a late call-up to face Argentina. The 25-year-old learned of his selection only on Friday, following an injury to Fraser Dingwall that prompted a midfield reshuffle.
From Patient Waiting to Sudden Opportunity
Ojomoh, who earned his first senior call-up from Eddie Jones back in 2021, has described the long-awaited moment as the culmination of years of patience. His second cap comes after his Test debut against the United States in Washington this past July, a match his father, former England international Steve Ojomoh, was unfortunately unable to attend.
Drawing parallels with his Bath Premiership debut, Ojomoh expressed confidence born from anticipation. "I felt like I took to it like a duck to water because I’d waited that long and I’d seen the process in my head," he said. "I’m hoping it’s the same here."
The 'Billy No Mates' Preparation Strategy
With limited time to prepare, Ojomoh has adopted a uniquely focused routine. He plans to become "Billy No Mates", confining himself to his room to analyse the opposition. "Normally, you’ve got from Monday to Saturday to get ready. This time it was, ‘OK, it’s Friday, let’s go’," he explained.
His self-professed nerdy approach to analysis will see him reviewing clips provided by team analysts and watching other rugby matches. "I will go through them and make my notes and prepare mentally for the game," Ojomoh stated, emphasising his commitment to being mentally ready for the challenge at the Allianz Stadium.
Composure and Swagger: The Key to Performance
Teammate Maro Itoje has noted Ojomoh's noticeable "swagger" around the camp, backing the Test rookie to shine against Argentina. For Ojomoh, however, composure is the true cornerstone of his game.
"I’m pretty comfortable in my own skin and I don’t let emotion affect my performance," he asserted. "It is a game of rugby, 15 on 15. I try and stay as level as possible." He views this level-headedness as his defining characteristic, something he hopes will translate into a commanding performance on the pitch.
Defence coach Richard Wigglesworth has labelled him an "elite level attacker", and after years of training with the best at Bath and England, Ojomoh insists the time has come to deliver. "I’ve been waiting for this moment... I need to put a performance in now," he concluded.
