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This marks a interesting feature of England's autumn perfect record that no new players earned their international debut during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in a quarter of a century. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against the Argentine side while earning his second cap seemed to be the arrival of a major talent.

Standout Display in Hard-Fought Victory

He proved to be the key player in what was England's most challenging performance of the November series. He finished off the first try before creating the remaining two. The setup for his teammate via a delightful cross-field kick was the highlight play of the opening period. Likewise, his quick offload to Henry Slade for England's third try was just as impressive, capping off a fine debut performance at the home stadium for the young player.

He has the kind of triple threat that every manager would want from their inside-centre. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for his club this season.

Quick Rise and Upcoming Opportunities

Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had finally unearthed his midfield duo for the future. However, the highest praise that can be given to the young star is that Borthwick might need to reconsider. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team previously, but had to wait until the final match of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Injuries to teammates paved the way for Ojomoh to start here, and he surely will be in contention for a third cap when the squad regroup to begin their championship campaign in the new year.

• Versatile Skillset: Excels at fly-half and centre.
• Crucial Input: Scored one try and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Delivered when teammates were unavailable.

Team Context and Broader Significance

Where might the team have been against Argentina without him? Undoubtedly they had some fortune and maybe it is not surprising that he was their standout performer. The team experienced an natural decline in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Perhaps Borthwick should have freshened things up.

A balanced view is required, though. It is tempting to lambast England for their failure to bring much urgency into this contest, or for almost throwing away a fixture they were controlling. But, this result marks a clean sweep of four autumn fixtures for the first time since 2016. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after starting with a loss. The team is midway in the four-year tournament plan and things look considerably rosier for the coach than they did previously.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick appears that, two years out from the World Cup, he understands the core group of the squad he will bring to the host nation. Of course, there will be the surprise inclusion. But there are very few current members of the squad who are not on track for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it posed an issue for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have taken action earlier, preventing the torrid start that plagued the team in the past.

Depth charts sound like they belong to seafarers of yesteryear, but coaches rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be nursing their wounds after a heartbreaking late defeat. The fact they avoided that owes plenty to the young star, luck, and the strength of the substitutes. As the coach plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and therefore we can forgive the paucity of this performance.