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It is a interesting feature of the English team's November perfect record that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in 25 years. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against Argentina while earning his second appearance felt like the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Performance in Tight Victory

Ojomoh was the key player in what was England's least convincing outing of the November series. He finished off the opening touchdown before creating the other two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a exquisite long pass was the highlight play of the opening period. Similarly, his quick offload to the center for the team's final score was equally eye-catching, capping off a excellent 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 featured at fly-half and at both centre positions for Bath this campaign.

Quick Rise and Upcoming Opportunities

It is just eight days since the head coach might have felt he had discovered his centre partnership for the long term. However, the highest praise that can be given to Ojomoh is that Borthwick might need to think again. He was initially selected to an England squad four years ago, but had to wait until the last game of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to other players paved the way for him to start here, and he surely will be in contention for a further appearance when England reconvene to start their Six Nations campaign in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at number ten and midfield.
• Crucial Input: Scored one try and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Delivered when others were injured.

Squad Background and Wider Implications

Where might England have been against Argentina without him? Undoubtedly they rode their luck and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. The team experienced an natural decline in intensity following a major win over New Zealand. Perhaps Borthwick should have made more changes.

Some perspective is needed, however. One might be inclined to lambast England for their failure to bring much urgency into this match, or for nearly losing a fixture they were dominating. But, this result marks a clean sweep of four autumn fixtures for the first time since 2016. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a defeat. The team is halfway through the World Cup cycle and the situation look much more positive for Borthwick than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

The manager gives the impression that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he knows the vast majority of the team he will bring to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are very few current members of the roster who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

This is an advantage because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have taken action earlier, avoiding the difficult start that affected the team in the past.

Depth charts sound like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but coaches rely on them and Borthwick can be happy 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 Ojomoh, luck, and the quality of the substitutes. As the coach plans the route to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can forgive the paucity of the recent display.