The impending budget may portend a gloomy outlook for the economic outlook, but for the England rugby team the signs of growth are clear. With victory against Argentina, Steve Borthwick’s ever-impressive side finished 2025 unbeaten at home and qualified for the Six Nations on an 11-game winning streak. After last year’s winter of discontent for English rugby, a happier Christmas beckons despite a flawed performance here.
For the first time since 2016 and Eddie Jones’ heady debut, four teams from the southern hemisphere came to Twickenham in November and were sent back over the equator, beaten. If New Zealand last week was England’s defining challenge in a Quilter Nations Series in which they avoided international rugby’s biggest beast, South Africa, this victory over a threat-packed Argentina side was nonetheless another display to illustrate England’s progress.
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England celebrate hard-fought victory (AFP/Getty)
It’s not easy at all. It was a hard-fought battle of a Test match in which Argentina came from within a point in a second-half rally that caused plenty of angst around Twickenham – but having found a way to lose in the final quarter a year ago, this once again, just about, evolving England returned home safely.
Tensions flared after the full-time whistle, however, with Tom Curry involved in a scuffle with Argentina players and subsequently accused of pushing Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi into the tunnel. “Obviously I’m aware there’s been an incident,” Borthwick said. “I didn’t see him, I wasn’t there, I was in the locker room at the time. I think anyone who has had contact with Tom Curry knows his character is impeccable. He’s a fantastic team man and a respectable guy.”
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Tom Curry was involved in an on-court brawl (Action Images via Reuters)
It wasn’t a cold-eyed, confident, imposing victory, but England press on. The depth that the head coach said he would develop over time during the darkest days is now in the spotlight, as shown here by center Max Ojomoh. If any of Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence or Fraser Dingwall were fit, they wouldn’t have been involved here; Had Seb Atkinson, another summer tourist, not suffered an untimely injury, he may not have made the wider England squad.
But as becomes habit for those on the fringes, he stepped up and stepped up with a brilliant opening 25 minutes in which he created and scored a try to give England a lead they didn’t quite relinquish. There is a lot to like about the 25-year-old, who has enough playmaking ability to have started this season as a fly-half for Bath, but who possesses the strong frame you would expect from the son of former England flanker Steve Ojomoh. His balance of brains and brawn proved vital in creating a crucial try for Henry Slade, who ultimately made the difference despite the Argentine’s heist threat in the final moments.
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Max Ojomoh impressed for England (PA)
This first quarter was characterized by English efficiency and Argentinian lavishness. On three occasions Argentina ventured into advanced territory and came away without points, while Santiago Carreras – briefly coming on as a substitute while Tomas Albornoz was being assessed for a head injury – hit the uprights with a simple penalty that should have put the visitors into the picture.
But by then England were already 10 points ahead and about to add seven more. Where their opponents struggled, the hosts took their chances – first thanks to George Ford’s precise drop goal, then thanks to two brilliant plays from second player Ojomoh. The cross owed Argentina in part its first try in England: Ben Spencer’s high lift and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s chase caused chaos, with the Pumas only managing to hand the ball to Ojomoh, who ran away.
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If there was a stroke of luck in his try, Ojomoh’s assist for England’s second goal was pure class. George Ford appeared to have made the wrong move after gaining the advantage from a penalty in the scrum and quickly changed tactics, correcting the direction of the English attack. By then, the Argentine had rushed Ojomoh’s face, but there was space beyond them, accessed by a precise cross kick that Feyi-Waboso collected and ran over. Somewhere in the stands, father Steve would have been flashing a beaming smile – but without being uncharitable towards Ojomoh senior, it must be assumed that Max inherited his footwork from his mother.
Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso both scored (Getty)
Albornoz, back among things, scored three points for Argentina; Ford himself missed three from the tee, before Luke Cowan-Dickie fumbled with the line in sight after a strong English lineout to prevent a 14-point lead from expanding further.
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However, Scotland discovered last week that even 21 points can be a dangerous lead against those lethal Pumas, and the hosts quickly saw their advantage significantly reduced. A sloppy start to the second half saw Argentina win through Justo Piccardo while England were soft and slow after the restart, before strikes from Albornoz and Carreras reduced the lead to just one point.
England, so safe and secure in the second half this season, hesitated; even an old reliable Ford has gone wrong with a drop target. Who would move them forward? Why Ojomoh, of course, crossing the gain line on his flyhalf pass, then sending a deft backdoor to Henry Slade. Iron fist; velvet glove and seven English points as combined centers.
Argentina fought back and threatened to claim victory (Getty)
“If you start looking at the centers that weren’t available today with Fraser, Seb Atkinson, Ollie Lawrence and Tommy Freeman, and then having players like Henry Slade and Max to perform at the level they have today, it’s great,” Borthwick said. “It shows another sign of the strength that is starting to develop within this England team.”
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A sharper penalty from Ford gave some extra breathing space, space for which they were grateful when Rodrigo Isgro gave Argentina late hope. Otherwise, a penalty in front of the posts during Argentina’s final assault would surely have been awarded; as things stood, the visitors had to kick the corner. Charlie Ewels disrupted the lineout, Ben Earl happily gathered and England hung on. It ended in a brawl that spilled into the tunnel, but for England the winning streak continues.
