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This marks a interesting feature of the English team's autumn perfect record that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in 25 years. Yet, the performance of Max Ojomoh display against the Argentine side while securing his second appearance felt like the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Display in Hard-Fought Victory

He proved to be the star turn in what was the team's least convincing outing of the autumn. He scored the opening touchdown before creating the remaining two. His assist for his teammate via a exquisite cross-field kick was the highlight play of the opening period. Similarly, his popped pass to the center for the team's third try was equally impressive, capping off a excellent first outing at Twickenham for the 25-year-old.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of versatile skillset that every manager would want from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has appeared at fly-half and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this season.

Quick Rise and Future Opportunities

Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the long term. 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 bide his time until the final match of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to other players created the opportunity for him to begin here, and he surely will be in contention for a third cap when the squad reconvene to begin their championship quest in the new year.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when teammates were injured.

Squad Context and Broader Significance

Where might the team have fared against Argentina without Ojomoh? Certainly they had some fortune and maybe it is not surprising that he was their best player. The team experienced an natural decline in intensity following a major win over New Zealand. Perhaps the coach should have made more changes.

A balanced view is required, though. One might be inclined to lambast the side for their failure to bring much urgency into this match, or for nearly losing a fixture they were controlling. However, this outcome marks a perfect record of four autumn fixtures for the first time since 2016. 2025 ends with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a defeat. We are halfway through the World Cup cycle and things 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 understands the core group of the team he will take to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are very few existing players of the squad who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

This is an benefit 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 difficult start that plagued the squad in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they are for sailors of yesteryear, but managers swear by them and Borthwick can be happy with his. On another day, England might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching late defeat. That they were not owes plenty to Ojomoh, fortune, and the quality of the bench. As Borthwick plans the route to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and as a result we can forgive the paucity of this performance.