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It is a curious feature of the English team's November clean sweep that no new players made their international debut 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 seemed to be the arrival of a future star.

Standout Display in Tight Win

He proved to be the star turn in what was England's least convincing outing of the November series. He finished off the opening touchdown before creating the remaining two. His assist for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a delightful cross-field kick was the champagne moment of the first half. Similarly, his quick offload to the center for the team's third try was just as impressive, capping off a fine debut performance at the home stadium for the 25-year-old.

Ojomoh possesses the kind of triple threat that all coaches desire from their midfield player. His abilities include running, kicking, and passing, and he has featured at number ten and at multiple midfield roles for his club this campaign.

Quick Ascent and Future Prospects

Only a little over a week since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had finally unearthed his midfield duo for the future. However, the best compliment that can be paid to the young star is that Borthwick may have to think again. He was first called up to an national team four years ago, but had to bide his time until the last game of the summer tour to earn his first cap. Injuries to other players created the opportunity for Ojomoh to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in consideration for a further appearance when the squad regroup to begin their Six Nations campaign in the new year.

• Multiple Abilities: Can play fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Scored one try and assisted two.
• Important Performance: Stepped up when teammates were unavailable.

Team Context and Broader Significance

How would England have fared against their opponents without Ojomoh? Undoubtedly they had some fortune and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their standout performer. The team experienced an natural decline in energy following a significant victory over the All Blacks. Maybe the coach should have freshened things up.

A balanced view is needed, however. One might be inclined to criticize England for their inability to inject much intensity into this contest, or for nearly losing a fixture they were controlling. But, this outcome marks a perfect record of November matches for the first time since recent years. The year ends with eleven consecutive victories after starting with a loss. The team is halfway through the World Cup cycle and things look considerably rosier for Borthwick than they did at this stage.

Squad Depth and Long-Term Strategy

Borthwick appears that, with time remaining from the global tournament, he understands the core group of the squad he will take to the host nation. Naturally, there will be the odd bolter. But there are very few current members of the roster who are not on track for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an advantage because it was a problem for his predecessor, who struggled when it became apparent that veterans were not going to play in his strategy. He seems to have taken action earlier, avoiding the difficult start that plagued the squad in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they are for sailors of the past, but managers rely on them and the coach can be satisfied 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 the young star, luck, 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 overlook the paucity of the recent display.