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It is a curious aspect of England's November clean sweep that no new players earned their international debut throughout the recent campaign, something not seen in 25 years. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against Argentina while earning his second appearance felt like the breakthrough of a major talent.

Standout Display in Tight Win

He proved to be the star turn in what was England's least convincing performance of the November series. He scored the opening touchdown before creating the remaining two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful cross-field kick was the highlight play of the first half. Likewise, his popped pass to Henry Slade for England's third try was equally impressive, concluding a fine first outing at the home stadium for the young player.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of triple threat that every manager would want from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has featured at fly-half and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this campaign.

Quick Ascent and Upcoming Prospects

Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the future. However, the highest praise that can be given to Ojomoh is that Borthwick might need to think again. Ojomoh was first called up to an national team four years ago, but had to bide his time until the last game of the overseas trip to make his debut. Injuries to other players paved the way for him to start here, and he surely will be in consideration for a third cap when England regroup to start their Six Nations campaign in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at number ten and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Stepped up when teammates were injured.

Team Background and Broader Implications

How would the team have been against Argentina without him? Undoubtedly they rode their luck and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. The team experienced an natural decline in intensity following a significant victory over New Zealand. Maybe Borthwick ought to have made more changes.

A balanced view is needed, though. One might be inclined to criticize England for their inability to bring much intensity into this contest, or for nearly losing a game they were dominating. However, this outcome completes a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since recent years. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after starting with a defeat. The team is midway in the four-year tournament plan and the situation look much more positive for Borthwick than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

The manager gives the impression that, two years out from the global tournament, he knows the core group of the squad he will bring to Australia. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. But there are very few existing players of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his predecessor, who found it difficult when it became apparent that veterans were not going to feature in his plans. He seems to have grasped the nettle sooner, preventing the difficult start that plagued the squad in the previous cycle.

Player rankings sound like they belong to sailors of the past, but coaches rely on them and the coach can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching late defeat. That they were not owes plenty to the young star, fortune, and the quality of the substitutes. While the coach plans the route to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and therefore we can overlook the paucity of this performance.