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It is a curious feature of England's November clean sweep that no new players earned their international debut during the series of matches, something not seen in a quarter of a century. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against the Argentine side while earning his second cap felt like the breakthrough of a major talent.

Standout Display in Tight Win

Ojomoh was the key player in what was the team's least convincing performance of the autumn. He scored the opening touchdown before creating the remaining two. His assist for his teammate via a delightful cross-field kick was the highlight play of the first half. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for England's final score was equally impressive, capping off a fine debut performance at Twickenham for the young player.

Ojomoh possesses the sort of triple threat that every manager would want from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has featured at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for his club this season.

Rapid Ascent and Future Opportunities

Only a little over a week since the head coach could have believed he had discovered his midfield duo for the long term. But, the highest praise that can be given to the young star is that Borthwick may have to think again. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team four years ago, but had to wait until the final match of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Injuries to other players paved the way for Ojomoh to start here, and he surely will be in contention for a further appearance when the squad reconvene to start their championship campaign in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play number ten and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Delivered when others were injured.

Team Context and Broader Implications

Where might England have fared against their opponents without him? Certainly they rode their luck and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. England showed an inevitable drop-off in intensity following a significant victory over New Zealand. Perhaps the coach ought to have freshened things up.

A balanced view is required, though. One might be inclined to lambast the side for their failure to inject much urgency into this match, or for nearly losing a game they were dominating. But, this outcome completes a perfect record of November matches for the initial occasion since recent years. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a loss. We are midway in the four-year tournament plan and things look much more positive for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick appears that, two years out from the global tournament, he knows the core group of the team he will take to Australia. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are not many current members of the roster who are not on track for the upcoming event.

This is an benefit because it was a problem for his predecessor, who struggled when it became apparent that veterans were not going to feature in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have taken action earlier, preventing the torrid start that affected the squad in the past.

Player rankings seem like they belong to sailors of the past, but coaches swear by them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, England might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. The fact they avoided that owes plenty to the young star, fortune, and the strength of the substitutes. As the coach plots a course to the Six Nations, he has positive momentum after 11 wins in a row, and therefore we can overlook the lack of quality of the recent display.