🔗 Share this article

This marks a curious aspect of England's November perfect record that no new players earned their first cap during the recent campaign, a scenario not seen in 25 years. However, Max Ojomoh's showing against the Argentine side while securing his second cap felt like the breakthrough of a future star.

Star Performance in Hard-Fought Win

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. The setup for his teammate via a exquisite long pass was the champagne moment of the opening period. Similarly, his popped pass to the center for England's final score was equally impressive, concluding a fine debut performance at Twickenham for the young player.

He has the sort of triple threat that every manager would want from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has featured at fly-half and at multiple midfield roles for Bath this campaign.

Quick Rise and Future Opportunities

It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had discovered his midfield duo for the future. But, the best compliment that can be given to Ojomoh is that Borthwick may have to reconsider. He was first called up to an national team four years ago, but had to wait until the last game of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Injuries to teammates created the opportunity for him to start here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when England regroup to start their championship quest in the coming months.

• Multiple Abilities: Can play number ten and midfield.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Delivered when teammates were injured.

Squad Background and Broader Significance

How would England have fared against Argentina without Ojomoh? Undoubtedly they had some fortune and maybe it is not surprising that he was their best player. England showed an inevitable drop-off in intensity following a major win over the All Blacks. Maybe Borthwick ought to have freshened things up.

A balanced view is required, though. One might be inclined to lambast England for their inability to bring much urgency into this contest, or for nearly losing a game they were dominating. However, this result completes a clean sweep of November matches for the initial occasion since 2016. 2025 concludes with 11 straight wins after beginning with a defeat. The team is halfway through the four-year tournament plan and things look much more positive for the coach than they did at this stage.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick appears that, two years out from the global tournament, he knows the core group of the squad he will take to the host nation. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are very few current members of the squad who are not in contention for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it became apparent that certain players were not going to play in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, avoiding the torrid beginning that plagued the squad in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they are for sailors of the past, but coaches rely on them and Borthwick can be happy with his. On another day, the team might be dealing with a loss after a gut-wrenching narrow loss. That they were not is largely due to Ojomoh, luck, and the quality of England's bench. As the coach 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.