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It is a interesting feature of England's autumn perfect record that there were no debutants earned their first cap during the recent campaign, something not seen in a quarter of a century. However, Max Ojomoh's showing against Argentina while securing his second cap felt like the breakthrough of a future star.

Standout Performance in Tight Victory

Ojomoh was the key player in what was England's most challenging performance of the autumn. He scored the first try before creating the other two. The setup for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso via a exquisite cross-field kick was the champagne moment of the first half. Similarly, his quick offload to Henry Slade for the team's final score was just as eye-catching, concluding a excellent first outing at the home stadium for the 25-year-old.

Ojomoh possesses the sort of triple threat that all coaches desire from their inside-centre. He can run, kick and pass, and he has featured at fly-half and at both centre positions for his club this season.

Rapid Ascent and Future Opportunities

It is just eight days since Steve Borthwick could have believed he had discovered his centre partnership for the long term. However, the highest praise that can be given to the young star is that Borthwick may have to reconsider. He 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 created the opportunity for Ojomoh to begin here, and he undoubtedly will be in contention for a third cap when the squad reconvene to begin their championship campaign in the coming months.

• Versatile Skillset: Can play fly-half and centre.
• Key Contributions: Notched a touchdown and set up two more.
• Timely Impact: Stepped up when others were injured.

Team Context and Wider Significance

Where might the team have fared against their opponents without him? Undoubtedly they had some fortune and perhaps it is no coincidence that he was their best player. England showed an natural decline in energy following a significant victory over New Zealand. Perhaps Borthwick ought to have freshened things up.

A balanced view is required, though. One might be inclined to lambast England 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 initial occasion since 2016. The year concludes with 11 straight wins after starting with a loss. The team is halfway through the four-year tournament plan and things look much more positive for the coach than they did previously.

Player Pool and Long-Term Strategy

The manager gives the impression that, two years out from the World Cup, he understands the core group of the squad he will bring to the host nation. Of course, there will be the odd bolter. Yet there are not many current members of the squad who are not in contention for the 2027 tournament.

That represents an benefit because it was a problem for his preceding coach, who found it difficult when it was clear that veterans were not going to feature in his plans. He seems to have taken action sooner, avoiding the difficult beginning that affected the squad in the previous cycle.

Depth charts sound like they belong to sailors of the past, but managers rely on them and Borthwick can be satisfied with his. Under different circumstances, the team might be nursing their wounds after a gut-wrenching late defeat. The fact they avoided that is largely due to the young star, luck, and the quality of the substitutes. While Borthwick plots a course to the Six Nations, he has wind in England's sails after an unbeaten run, and as a result we can overlook the paucity of the recent display.