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This marks a curious feature of the English team's November clean sweep that there were no debutants earned their first cap during the recent campaign, something not seen in 25 years. However, Max Ojomoh's showing against the Argentine side while earning his second appearance seemed to be the breakthrough of a major talent.

Standout Display in Tight Win

He proved to be the key player in what was England's least convincing outing of the autumn. He scored the first try before creating the remaining two. His assist for his teammate via a delightful long pass was the highlight play of the opening period. Likewise, his quick offload to Henry Slade for the team's final score was just as eye-catching, concluding a fine debut performance at Twickenham for the young player.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of versatile skillset that every manager would want from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for his club this season.

Rapid Rise and Upcoming Opportunities

It is just a little over a week since the head coach might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the future. However, the highest praise that can be given to the young star is that the coach may have to reconsider. Ojomoh was first called up to an England squad previously, but had to wait until the final match of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to other players created the opportunity for him to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when the squad regroup to begin their championship quest in the coming months.

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

Squad Background and Wider Significance

Where might England have been against Argentina without Ojomoh? Undoubtedly they rode their luck and maybe it is not surprising that he was their best player. England experienced an inevitable drop-off in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Perhaps Borthwick ought to have freshened things up.

A balanced view is needed, though. One might be inclined to lambast England for their inability to bring much intensity into this contest, or for almost throwing away a fixture they were dominating. However, this outcome completes a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the first time since 2016. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after starting with a loss. The team is midway in the four-year tournament plan and the situation look considerably rosier for the coach than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

The manager gives the impression that, two years out from the World Cup, he knows the core group of the squad he will bring to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. But there are not many existing players of the roster who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an advantage because it posed an issue for his predecessor, who found it difficult when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his plans. He seems to have taken action earlier, avoiding the torrid beginning that plagued the team in the previous cycle.

Player rankings seem like they are for sailors of the past, but coaches swear by them and the coach can be satisfied with his. On another day, England might be nursing their wounds after a heartbreaking narrow loss. The fact they avoided that owes plenty to Ojomoh, fortune, and the quality of England's substitutes. While Borthwick 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.