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It is a interesting feature of the English team's November clean sweep that there were no debutants earned their international debut throughout the series of matches, a scenario not seen in a quarter of a century. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against the Argentine side while securing his second cap seemed to be the breakthrough of a major talent.

Star Performance in Hard-Fought Win

Ojomoh was the star turn in what was England's most challenging performance of the autumn. He finished off the first try before setting up the remaining two. His assist for his teammate via a exquisite long pass was the champagne moment of the first half. Similarly, his popped pass to Henry Slade for the team's final score was just as eye-catching, concluding a fine first outing at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.

He has the sort of versatile skillset that every manager desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at number ten and at both centre positions for Bath this campaign.

Quick Rise and Future Prospects

It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the future. However, the highest praise that can be paid to the young star is that the coach might need to reconsider. He was first called up 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 other players paved the way for him to begin here, and he surely will be in contention for a further appearance when England regroup to start their championship campaign in the new year.

• Multiple Abilities: Can play number ten and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Delivered when others were injured.

Team Context and Wider Significance

Where might the team have fared against their opponents without him? Certainly they rode their luck and maybe it is not surprising that he was their standout performer. England showed an inevitable drop-off in energy following a significant victory over the All Blacks. Perhaps the coach should have made more changes.

Some perspective is needed, however. It is tempting to lambast the side for their failure to bring much urgency into this match, or for almost throwing away a game they were controlling. But, this result marks a clean sweep of four autumn fixtures for the initial occasion since 2016. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after starting with a loss. We are halfway through the World Cup cycle and the situation look much more positive for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, with time remaining from the World Cup, he knows the vast majority of the team he will take to Australia. Naturally, there will be the surprise inclusion. But there are very few current members of the roster who are not on track for the 2027 tournament.

This is an advantage because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it became apparent that veterans were not going to play in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have taken action earlier, avoiding the torrid beginning that plagued the team in the past.

Player rankings sound like they belong to sailors of the past, but coaches rely on them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. On another day, England might be nursing their wounds after a heartbreaking narrow loss. The fact they avoided that is largely due to Ojomoh, luck, and the quality of the substitutes. While Borthwick plans the route to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and therefore we can forgive the paucity of the recent display.