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

Standout Display in Hard-Fought Victory

He proved to be the key player in what was England's least convincing outing of the autumn. He scored the first try before setting up the remaining two. The setup for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the opening period. Likewise, his quick offload to the center for England's final score was equally eye-catching, concluding a fine first outing at Twickenham for the young player.

He has the kind of triple threat that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at number ten and at both centre positions for his club this campaign.

Rapid Ascent and Future Opportunities

Only a little over a week since the head coach might have felt he had discovered his centre partnership for the long term. But, the best compliment that can be given to Ojomoh is that Borthwick might need to think again. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team four years ago, but had to wait until the last game of the overseas trip to make his debut. Injuries to teammates paved the way for him to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in consideration for a third cap when England regroup to begin their Six Nations quest in the new year.

• Versatile Skillset: Excels at fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Stepped up when others were unavailable.

Squad Background and Wider Significance

Where might England have fared against Argentina without Ojomoh? Undoubtedly they rode their luck and maybe it is not surprising that he was their best player. England experienced 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 required, though. One might be inclined to criticize England for their failure to bring much urgency into this contest, or for almost throwing away a fixture they were dominating. However, this result marks a clean sweep of November matches for the first time since 2016. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a loss. We are halfway through the four-year tournament plan and the situation look much more positive for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

The manager gives the impression that, two years out from the global tournament, he understands the core group of the team he will take to Australia. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. But there are very few current members of the squad who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

This is an advantage because it posed an issue for his preceding coach, who struggled when it was clear that certain players were not going to feature in his plans. Borthwick seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, avoiding the torrid beginning that plagued the team in the previous cycle.

Depth charts seem like they are for sailors of the past, but managers rely on them and the coach can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, England might be dealing with a loss after a heartbreaking late defeat. The fact they avoided that is largely due to the young star, luck, and the strength of the bench. As the coach plots a course to the championship, he has positive momentum after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can forgive the lack of quality of this performance.