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This marks a curious feature of the English team's autumn clean sweep that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in a quarter of a century. However, the performance of Max Ojomoh showing against Argentina while securing his second cap felt like the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Display in Hard-Fought Win

Ojomoh was the key player in what was the team's most challenging outing of the November series. He finished off the opening touchdown before setting up the remaining two. The setup for his teammate via a delightful cross-field kick was the champagne moment of the opening period. Similarly, his popped pass to Henry Slade for England's final score was just as impressive, concluding a excellent first outing at the home stadium for the young player.

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

Rapid Rise and Future Opportunities

It is just a little over a week since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his centre partnership for the long term. However, the best compliment that can be paid to Ojomoh is that the coach may have to think again. Ojomoh was initially selected to an national team previously, but had to bide his time until the last game of the summer tour to make his debut. Fitness issues to teammates paved the way for Ojomoh to start here, and he surely will be in contention for a further appearance when the squad reconvene to start their Six Nations quest in the new year.

• Multiple Abilities: Can play fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Timely Impact: Stepped up when others were unavailable.

Squad Context and Wider Significance

Where might England have fared against Argentina without him? Certainly they rode their luck and perhaps it is not surprising that he was their standout performer. England experienced an inevitable drop-off in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Maybe Borthwick should have made more changes.

Some perspective is required, though. One might be inclined to lambast the side for their inability to inject much urgency into this match, or for nearly losing a game they were controlling. However, this result marks a clean sweep of four autumn fixtures for the first time since 2016. 2025 ends with 11 straight wins after starting with a defeat. We are halfway through the World Cup cycle and things look much more positive for Borthwick than they did previously.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the global tournament, he knows the core group of the team he will bring to Australia. Of course, there will be the surprise inclusion. But there are not many current members 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 became apparent that veterans were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have grasped the nettle sooner, avoiding the difficult start that plagued the team in the previous cycle.

Player rankings seem like they belong to sailors of the past, but coaches rely on them and the coach can be happy with his. Under different circumstances, England might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not owes plenty to Ojomoh, fortune, and the strength of England's substitutes. As the coach plans the route to the championship, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and therefore we can forgive the paucity of the recent display.