Image caption, Ojomoh put in superb performance against Argentina last autumn, scoring a try in a 27-23 win ByChris Jones Rugby union correspondent Published 8 minutes ago Centre Max Ojomoh - labelled "one of the most talented players in English rugby" - has been challenged to produce a relentless and physical performance against Japan on Saturday.
The Bath man burst on to the international scene in a man-of-the-match display against Argentina at the end of 2025, but has not played for his country in the 12 months since.
Ojomoh was initially left out of Steve Borthwick's wider training squad but after starring for the 'A' team has been catapulted back into the England number 12 shirt and with it World Cup contention.
"Max is one of the most talented players in English rugby," boss Steve Borthwick told BBC Sport.
"His ability to see space and distribute, to hide where he is going to pass and to pass short or long, that's a rare skill." However Borthwick says the position of centre has changed markedly over the years, and it now requires a level of unyielding physical output to go with a wide skill-set.
"You have to be incredibly skilled in that position, but it demands a skill and toughness it previously probably didn't," he explained.
"It used to be a second receiver, that second pair of eyes, the distribution skills and the potential kicking skills.
"Now they've got to hit and they've got to run in attack and they've got to run in defence, and our centres are involved in a lot of rucks in wider channels.
"Can they get the ball back?
And can they tackle with impact to get the ball back?
So when I'm talking about centres, I want the incredible skill and I want the incredible toughness.
"And I am full of belief that Max will go and deliver that this weekend." I want star athletes on the ball - Ford Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Ford has been preferred to Marcus Smith (right) as England's starting fly-half with Fin Smith left out of the Japan game Two-cap Ojomoh will line up alongside cap centurion George Ford, who returns to the number 10 shirt for the first time since the Six Nations.
Speaking in depth to the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Ford says one of his main jobs against the Blossoms is to get England's best athletes on the ball as much as possible.
"You can pick attack to pieces at times and say, 'I want this running line and I want you to stand here', but, essentially, if you're getting the ball in Tommy Freeman's hands and Manny Feyi-Waboso's hands and Will Joseph's hands and Cadan Murley's hands in space, on a massive field like Twickenham, and it's one-on-one or two-on-two, then that gets your attack going.
So you can simplify it," Ford said.
"How many times can we get the ball in Will Joseph's hands this week?
I want him to have double-figure touches.
Same with Cadan, same with Max Ojomoh.
"When you are analysing, if you just bring it back to the simplest terms, these guys are unbelievable athletes with skill.
So what do they need?
They need time and space.
So how do you get the ball to them in time and space?
Just give it to them and let them go." England v Japan Nations Championship Saturday 14 November, 16:40 GMT Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Listen on Sounds Live on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website and app With Fin Smith rested, Ford is preferred to Marcus Smith at fly-half, with the latter again being deployed as a utility option off the bench.
For Ford, the debate around the England number 10s is nothing new.
"It's been like this all my England career.
A lot has been spoken about fly-half in particular and who starts.
And 12 years ago now when I first came in, it was the same," he said.
"Genuinely the three of us, our relationship, the respect we have for each other but how competitive we are as well, is probably the best I've experienced within the England team.
"We understand selection is very subjective and Steve will pick a 23 that he thinks is the best formula to win the game.
"For the team to succeed, for the team to win, for the team to go and win the Nations Championship or to go and win a World Cup in 12 months' time, it's going to need three high-quality, brilliant 10s who are great people as well.
"Fin has been amazing, the way he's played for Northampton, the way he's played for England, he's took it to a new level in his game.
"Marcus has started the season like a house on fire when he came back from his injury at Quins and you know what versatility he's got and how he can influence the game.
"And hopefully I can add when I am playing, when I'm not playing, maybe in a different kind of way.
"So what I'm saying is you get the one who's starting at the weekend, you probably get another one of us who's on the bench, but it's like a three-man job to get the team ready for every week.
