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It is a interesting aspect of England's autumn perfect record that no new players earned their international debut during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in a quarter of a century. Yet, Max Ojomoh's showing against the Argentine side while securing his second appearance seemed to be the arrival of a future star.

Standout Display in Tight Victory

He proved to be the key player in what was the team's least convincing outing of the autumn. He finished off the opening touchdown before setting up the other two. The setup for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the first half. Similarly, his quick offload to Henry Slade for England's final score was equally impressive, capping off a excellent debut performance at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.

He has the sort of versatile skillset that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has appeared at fly-half and at both centre positions for Bath this season.

Quick Rise and Future Prospects

Only eight days since the head coach could have believed he had finally unearthed his centre partnership for the future. But, the highest praise that can be given to the young star is that Borthwick might need to think again. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team previously, but had to wait until the last game of the summer tour to make his debut. Fitness issues to other players created the opportunity for Ojomoh to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a further appearance when England reconvene to begin their championship quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Excels at fly-half and midfield.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Stepped up when teammates were unavailable.

Team Context and Broader Implications

How would England have been against their opponents without him? Certainly they rode their luck and maybe it is no coincidence that he was their best player. The team showed an natural decline in intensity following a major win over the All Blacks. Maybe the coach should have made more changes.

A balanced view is required, though. It is tempting to criticize the side for their failure to inject much urgency into this contest, or for almost throwing away a game they were dominating. But, this outcome marks a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the first time since 2016. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after beginning with a loss. We are midway in the World Cup cycle and the situation look much more positive for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Future Planning

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the World Cup, he understands the core group of the squad he will take to Australia. Naturally, there will be the surprise inclusion. Yet there are very few 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 was clear that certain players were not going to feature in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, preventing the torrid start that plagued the team in the past.

Player rankings sound like they are for sailors of the past, but coaches swear by them and Borthwick can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be dealing with a loss after a heartbreaking late defeat. That they were not owes plenty to Ojomoh, luck, and the strength of the bench. As Borthwick plans the route to the Six Nations, he has positive momentum after 11 wins in a row, and as a result we can forgive the lack of quality of this performance.