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This marks a curious feature of England's November perfect record that there were no debutants made their international debut during the series of matches, something not seen in 25 years. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against Argentina while earning his second cap seemed to be the breakthrough of a future star.

Standout Display in Hard-Fought Victory

He proved to be the key player in what was the team's least convincing performance of the November series. He finished off the first try before setting up the other two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the opening period. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for the team's final score was just as eye-catching, concluding a excellent first outing at the home stadium for the 25-year-old.

He has the sort of versatile skillset that all coaches would want from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this season.

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 future. However, the best compliment that can be given to the young star is that the coach might need to think again. Ojomoh was initially selected to an England squad previously, but had to wait until the final match of the summer tour to earn his first cap. Injuries to other players paved the way for Ojomoh to begin here, and he surely will be in consideration for a third cap when the squad regroup to begin their Six Nations quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at fly-half and centre.
• Crucial Input: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when others were injured.

Team Context and Wider Implications

Where might the team have been against Argentina without Ojomoh? Certainly they had some fortune and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. England showed an natural decline in intensity following a major win over the All Blacks. Perhaps the coach should have made more changes.

Some perspective is needed, though. It is tempting to lambast the side for their failure to inject much urgency into this contest, or for nearly losing a fixture they were dominating. But, this result marks a clean sweep of November matches for the initial occasion since recent years. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after beginning with a defeat. The team is halfway through the four-year tournament plan and the situation look much more positive for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

The manager gives the impression that, with time remaining from the global tournament, he knows the core group of the team he will take to the host nation. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are not many current members of the squad who are not on track for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an benefit because it was a problem for his predecessor, 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 difficult beginning that plagued the squad in the previous cycle.

Player rankings seem like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but managers rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. On another day, the team might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not owes plenty to Ojomoh, luck, and the strength of the substitutes. As Borthwick plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can overlook the lack of quality of the recent display.