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It is a curious feature of England's autumn perfect record that there were no debutants earned their first cap throughout the series of matches, something not seen in a quarter of a century. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against Argentina while securing his second appearance felt like the arrival of a major talent.

Star Display in Tight Victory

He proved to be the star turn in what was the team's most challenging outing of the autumn. He scored the opening touchdown before setting up the remaining two. The setup for his teammate via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the first half. Similarly, his quick offload to Henry Slade for England's third try was just as eye-catching, concluding a fine debut performance at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.

He has the kind of triple threat that every manager desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this campaign.

Rapid Ascent and Future Opportunities

It is just a little over a week since Steve Borthwick 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 the coach may have to think again. He was first called up to an England squad four years ago, but had to bide his time until the final match of the summer tour to make his debut. Fitness issues to other players paved the way for him to start here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when the squad reconvene to start their championship campaign in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Excels at number ten and midfield.
• Crucial Input: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Stepped up when others were unavailable.

Team Context and Wider Implications

Where might England have fared against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they rode their luck and perhaps it is not surprising that he was their best player. England showed an natural decline in intensity following a major win over the All Blacks. Perhaps the coach should have freshened things up.

A balanced view is needed, though. It is tempting to lambast the side for their failure to inject much intensity into this contest, or for nearly losing a game they were controlling. But, this result marks a perfect record of November matches for the first time since recent years. 2025 ends with eleven consecutive victories after starting with a loss. We are halfway through the World Cup cycle and things look considerably rosier for Borthwick than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, with time remaining from the global tournament, he understands the core group of the squad he will bring to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the surprise inclusion. But there are not many current members of the squad who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

This is an advantage because it was a problem for his predecessor, who found it difficult when it was clear that veterans were not going to play in his plans. He seems to have taken action sooner, avoiding the torrid beginning that affected the squad in the past.

Depth charts seem like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but managers rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not owes plenty to the young star, fortune, and the strength of the substitutes. While Borthwick plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and therefore we can overlook the lack of quality of the recent display.