🔗 Share this article

This marks a curious aspect of the English team's November perfect record that no new players earned their international debut 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 seemed to be the arrival of a future star.

Star Display in Hard-Fought Victory

Ojomoh was the key player in what was the team's most challenging performance of the autumn. He finished off the opening touchdown before creating the other two. His assist for his teammate via a exquisite long pass was the highlight play of the first half. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for the team's final score was just as impressive, concluding a fine first outing at Twickenham for the young player.

Ojomoh possesses the sort of versatile skillset that every manager would want from their midfield player. He can run, kick and pass, and he has featured at number ten and at both centre positions for his club this season.

Rapid Rise and Future Prospects

It is just a little over a week since the head coach could have believed he had finally unearthed his midfield duo for the long term. But, the highest praise that can be paid to Ojomoh is that Borthwick might need to think again. He was initially selected to an national team previously, but had to wait until the last game of the overseas trip to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to teammates created the opportunity for Ojomoh to begin here, and he surely will be in contention for a third cap when England regroup to start their Six Nations quest in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play fly-half and midfield.
• Crucial Input: Notched a touchdown and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Delivered when teammates were injured.

Team Background and Wider Implications

Where might England have been against their opponents without him? Certainly they rode their luck and perhaps it is not surprising that he was their standout performer. The team showed an inevitable drop-off in energy following a major win over New Zealand. Perhaps Borthwick should have freshened things up.

Some perspective is required, however. One might be inclined to criticize the side for their failure to inject much urgency into this match, or for almost throwing away a fixture they were dominating. But, this result marks a clean sweep of November matches for the initial occasion since recent years. 2025 concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a loss. The team is midway in the World Cup cycle and the situation look considerably rosier for the coach than they did at this stage.

Player Pool and Future Planning

The manager appears that, with time remaining from the global tournament, he knows the vast majority of the team he will take to Australia. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are not many existing players of the squad who are not on track for the upcoming event.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his predecessor, who struggled when it was clear that veterans were not going to feature in his plans. He seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, avoiding the torrid start that affected the squad in the past.

Player rankings seem like they are for sailors of the past, but coaches swear by them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching late defeat. That they were not is largely due to the young star, luck, and the strength of England's bench. While the coach plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after 11 wins in a row, and therefore we can overlook the lack of quality of the recent display.