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It is a curious feature of England's November perfect record that there were no debutants earned their first cap throughout the series of matches, something not seen in a quarter of a century. Yet, Max Ojomoh's showing against Argentina while securing his second cap seemed to be the arrival of a major talent.

Standout Display 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 scored the first try before creating the remaining two. His assist for his teammate via a delightful long pass was the champagne moment of the first half. Likewise, his popped pass to the center for the team's final score was equally eye-catching, capping off a excellent first outing at the home stadium for the young player.

He has the kind of triple threat that every manager desire from their midfield player. He can run, kick and pass, and he has featured at fly-half and at multiple midfield roles for his club this season.

Quick Rise and Future Prospects

It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick might have felt he had finally unearthed his midfield duo for the long term. But, the best compliment that can be paid to the young star is that Borthwick may have to think again. Ojomoh was first called up to an England squad four years ago, but had to bide his time until the last game of the summer tour to earn his first cap. Fitness issues to other players paved the way for him to start here, and he surely will be in contention for a further appearance when the squad regroup to begin their championship quest in the new year.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and set up two more.
• Important Performance: Stepped up when teammates were unavailable.

Team Background and Wider Implications

Where might England have been against their opponents without Ojomoh? Undoubtedly they rode their luck and maybe it is not surprising that he was their best player. The team experienced an natural decline in intensity following a significant victory over New Zealand. Perhaps Borthwick ought to have made more changes.

A balanced view is required, though. It is tempting to criticize England for their inability to inject much urgency into this match, or for nearly losing a fixture they were dominating. But, this outcome completes a perfect record of November matches for the initial occasion since recent years. The year concludes with eleven consecutive victories after beginning with a defeat. The team is midway in the World Cup cycle and the situation look much more positive for the coach than they did previously.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick gives the impression that, two years out from the global tournament, he understands the vast majority of the squad he will take to Australia. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are not many current members of the squad who are not on track for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an advantage because it posed an issue for his predecessor, who struggled when it was clear that certain players were not going to feature in his strategy. Borthwick seems to have grasped the nettle earlier, avoiding the torrid start that affected the squad in the past.

Player rankings sound like they belong to sailors of yesteryear, but managers rely on them and Borthwick can be happy with his. On another day, England might be nursing their wounds after a heartbreaking narrow loss. The fact they avoided that is largely due to the young star, fortune, and the strength of the bench. As Borthwick plots a course to the championship, he has positive momentum after an unbeaten run, and therefore we can overlook the lack of quality of this performance.