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It is a curious feature of England's November perfect record that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, something not seen in a quarter of a century. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against the Argentine side while securing his second cap felt like the breakthrough of a major talent.

Standout Display in Tight Win

Ojomoh was the key player in what was the team's least convincing outing of the November series. He finished off the first try before setting up the remaining two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful cross-field kick was the highlight play of the opening period. Similarly, his quick offload to the center for England's final score was just as eye-catching, concluding a fine debut performance at Twickenham 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 appeared at number ten and at both centre positions for his club this campaign.

Quick Ascent and Future Opportunities

It is just a little over a week since the head coach might have felt he had discovered his centre partnership for the long term. However, the best compliment that can be given to Ojomoh is that the coach may have to reconsider. He was initially selected to an national team previously, but had to wait until the final match of the summer tour to make his debut. Fitness issues to teammates paved the way for him to begin here, and he surely will be in consideration for a further appearance when England reconvene to begin their championship quest in the new year.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at number ten and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Stepped up when teammates were injured.

Squad Background and Broader Implications

Where might England have been against their opponents without Ojomoh? Certainly they had some fortune and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their best player. England experienced an natural decline in energy following a major win over the All Blacks. Maybe Borthwick ought to have freshened things up.

A balanced view is needed, however. One might be inclined to lambast England for their inability to bring much urgency into this match, or for almost throwing away a fixture they were dominating. However, this outcome marks a perfect record of November matches for the first time since 2016. 2025 ends with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a loss. The team is halfway through the four-year tournament plan and the situation look considerably rosier for the coach than they did at this stage.

Player Pool and Future Planning

Borthwick appears that, with time remaining from the global tournament, he understands the vast majority of the team he will take to Australia. Naturally, there will be the surprise inclusion. Yet there are not many current members of the roster who are not on track for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his predecessor, who found it difficult when it became apparent that veterans were not going to feature in his strategy. He seems to have taken action earlier, preventing the torrid start that affected the team in the past.

Depth charts sound like they belong to sailors of the past, but managers rely on them and the coach can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, England might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching late defeat. That they were not is largely due to Ojomoh, fortune, and the strength of the substitutes. As the coach plots a course to the championship, he has positive momentum after an unbeaten run, and therefore we can overlook the paucity of the recent display.