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Maro Itoje must seize his chance to show he can lead the Lions and prove Eddie Jones wrong, writes CHRIS FOY...
while Owen Farrell finally gets the affection he deserves Maro Itoje has to show that he is capable of leading the Lions Itoje, who turns 30 next month, will look to deliver a retort to Eddie Jones By Chris Foy for the Daily Mail Published: 22:30, 8 September 2024 | Updated: 22:55, 8 September 2024 e-mail View comments A defining season looms for Maro Itoje, who has the chance to resurrect his surge towards true greatness at Test level – as the front-runner to become Lions captain. Next month, the England lock turns 30 and he will do so having been installed as skipper at his club, Saracens. That shrewdly-timed appointment allows Itoje the perfect opportunity to showcase his credentials for a coveted and revered role next summer.
Mighty men of the second row are often appointed to lead the Lions, with Alun Wyn Jones , Paul O’Connell and Martin Johnson becoming the towering talismen of the pro era, to follow in the giant footsteps of others such as Bill Beaumont and the legendary Ulsterman, Willie John McBride. These are the icons who Itoje must try to live up to and emulate. He has overcome a post-Covid career dip, so the 2024-25 campaign is when he can elevate himself to the pantheon of supreme British forwards, which had seemed like a formality years ago.
Proving that he can make the grade as an inspirational leader will allow Itoje to deliver a resounding retort to Eddie Jones – who said he didn’t have it in him – and add an extra dimension to his CV. A glorious chance awaits to follow the example of Johnson, by taking on the Lions captaincy as a back-to-front staging post on the way to earning the job with England. For that to happen, Itoje must dismiss once and for all the consensus view that he is a richly-talented individual who is best left to focus on his own multi-purpose game and leave the tub-thumping and man-management to others.
Maro Itoje will be under pressure as he looks to show that he is capable of leading the Lions This season Itoje can elevate himself to the pantheon of supreme British forwards Former England coach Eddie Jones suggested that Itoje wasn't capable of being captain Jamie George has been magnificent as England captain but he will turn 34 next month In the coming months at Saracens, he must prove that he can unite and rally a team. What he must learn is the precious knack for exerting influence far beyond the extent of his own individual powers. Johnson was a master of the art, as was Alun Wyn Jones who, in his latter years with Wales and the Lions, seemed to act as a puppet-master dictating terms in Test matches.
A decade ago, Itoje led England’s Under 20s to junior World Cup glory in Auckland and now he has a prime opportunity to be at the forefront of series-winning, title-winning success at senior level, for club and country. Jamie George has been magnificent as captain of the national team, but he will turn 34 before his club-mate is out of his twenties, and another World Cup would be a stretch for the popular hooker, at the age of 36 and 37. A successor needs to emerge, in the next year or two.
It is not a narrow English outlook to regard Itoje as favourite to lead the Lions. James Ryan is not even sure of his place in the Ireland pack. Caelan Doris a class act and a statesmanlike figure, but he was eclipsed when Ireland lost at Twickenham and there is no certainty he would be picked ahead of Ben Earl at No 8.
George must battle his way into the Test 23, competing with Dan Sheehan and Dewi Lake, while it is surely too soon for Dafydd Jenkins, who is still finding his feet at the helm of a struggling Wales side. No Scot appears in the mix, despite Finn Russell adding enhanced maturity to his creative genius at 10, so it is wide open for Itoje to seize his chance, go on in due course to succeed George as England captain and add the leadership layers which will propel him towards greatness, one day. ***************************** Australia's struggles make them vulnerable to the Lions The usual, season-long fanfare which precedes a Lions tour is in grave danger of falling silent this time, due to the calamitous state of the touring team’s next opponents.
The Wallabies appear to be in the grip of an existential crisis; which is no exaggeration of their predicament. After half an hour of their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in La Plata on Saturday, Australia were in control, with a 20-3 lead. Fifty minutes later, they had collapsed to a 67-27 defeat which was an abject surrender and humiliation, even by their wretched recent standards.
If that is what the Pumas can do to Joe Schmidt’s side, what exactly could the four-nation might of the Lions inflict? Joe Schmidt's Australia side will face a hugely challenging task up against the Lions Even from a British and Irish perspective, it doesn’t bear thinking about. Schmidt is a master strategist but maybe this salvage mission is beyond even him. That will become clearer by the end of November, by which time the Wallabies may have been Grand Slammed all around the four home nations.
The marketing folk will have to hope that all match tickets and travel packages for the tour next summer have been sold and fully paid-for before it becomes unavoidably apparent that an epic mismatch is on the cards Down Under next summer. At least the Lions should be properly tested in Dublin next June 20, if Argentina can replicate the potent blend of power and attacking fluency which they showed last weekend. As it stands, that might turn out to be the toughest assignment Andy Farrell’s squad face, prior to even setting off on their latest crusade to the far south.
.. ***************************** Genge could be key figure in tackling rugby's class divide Buried amid the headline elements of the new deal drawn up by the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the players’ union – the RPA, about the future structure of professional rugby in England, was a welcome gesture aimed at tackling the sport’s glaring class divide.
Academies will be obliged to forge partnerships with at least two state schools (as well as all the public schools which are established centres of excellence). Good. It’s a step in the right direction.
Ellis Genge could have a significant part to play in helping to tackle rugby's class divide More needs to be done. Rugby could do with shedding the ‘posh sport’ image which still pervades for good reason. Bristol prop Ellis Genge, who has become one of England’s leading figures in recent years, is an ideal figurehead for this critical issue, which he has spoken out about passionately; having had to battle against the often privilege-based system to reach the top.
What the powers-that-be have done is acknowledge that Genge has a point. What they have done is a start, but more effort and investment is needed to open up communities and talent pools which have been chronically over-looked for too long. ***************************** Owen Farrell finally gets the affection he deserves Owen Farrell will face some hostility but will generally receive affection in France So, Owen Farrell couldn’t wield a magic wand on his French club debut.
Despite the exiled England captain’s best efforts, Racing 92 were narrowly beaten at Castres on the opening weekend of the Top 14. However, Farrell fulfilled his visiting ambassador duties and will have been heartened by the reception he received from awe-struck opposition fans. He will have to deal with a constant clamour wherever he goes this season but, ironically, it may be far more welcoming and supportive – as a pantomime villain etranger from the far side of the Channel – than his latter days with the national team, when England fans turned on him.
It is unlikely that Owen and his wife Georgie will be made to feel uncomfortable about taking their two young sons to games in France, as became the case at the last World Cup. There will be generic hostility and boos when he kicks, but then attention and affection, on the whole. He may not woo the French rugby public to quite the same extent that Jonny Wilkinson did in his late-career pomp at Toulon, but he can make friends with some linguistic effort, which in turn should earn Farrell the goodwill he has done more than enough to deserve.
***************************** The Last Word The revelation that the RFU considered building a new national stadium on a site near Birmingham has been greeted as something akin to treason. Why? The England team is supposed to represent the entire country, not just London and the Home Counties. A headquarters in the Midlands would have made real sense, if it had included suitable infrastructure around it.
Such a move would have made the Test side more accessible for a greater proportion of the country and logistically would have been a big improvement. A headquarters in Birmingham to replace Twickenham would have made real sense Of course, money talks, and the prestige and profits generated by the London hospitality market were decisive factors in staying put. But those who would always speak out in support of the status quo clearly haven’t often tried to get in and out of Twickenham by train on match-day (especially out – what a grisly ordeal) or had to sit in gridlock on the A316.
The area is residential and cannot cope with such an influx. Meanwhile, stadium naming rights are an emotive subject and the decision to re-brand the old cabbage patch in south west London has stirred up a hornet’s nest, but this column does not share the outrage. The RFU can call it whatever they like and stick some signs up, if that helps pay for a refurb.
Most people – and publications – will stick with Twickenham. Unions have rejected a grubby venture to Qatar in the near future, so pursuing alternative sponsorship options to boost finances is no disgrace. Share or comment on this article: Maro Itoje must seize his chance to show he can lead the Lions and prove Eddie Jones wrong, writes CHRIS FOY.
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