Competitive Itoje willing to learn from Mount Rushmore of Lions captains

Do you cognize what truly stuck retired arsenic Maro Itoje sat chatting successful the O₂ Arena aft the British & Irish Lions squad announcement? His biceps. This year’s Lions jersey is choky capable connected the shoulders and sufficiently abbreviated connected the arms to marque their already well-muscled skipper look similar Popeye connected steroids. Say what you similar astir the Lions squad but they person chosen a beardown leader.

It has worked for them successful the past. Who tin hide the pipe‑smoking Willie John McBride and his classical effect – “Do you deliberation determination volition beryllium galore of them?” – erstwhile an aggravated edifice manager successful South Africa threatened to telephone the constabulary to apprehension a fig of 1974 Lions who had been enthusiastically “rearranging” the furniture. Legend besides has it that Ian McGeechan picked the hulking Martin Johnson arsenic his skipper successful 1997 partially due to the fact that of the intimidating effect helium mightiness person connected the Springboks – and the referee – erstwhile helium entered their changing room.

A spot of presence, peculiarly erstwhile paired with crisp intelligence, tin surely spell a agelong mode successful a Lions context. But each palmy teams request encephalon arsenic good arsenic brawn. Which was thing Itoje himself was suitably reminded of connected Wednesday evening erstwhile helium dined with illustrious Lions skippers from tours past. Imagine sitting determination surrounded by Johnson, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and the remainder of the chiselled-jaw immortals from rugby’s Mount Rushmore.

Maro’s past supper earlier officially entering the pantheon sounded rather an experience, due to the fact that each the veterans had nuggets of proposal for him. Johnson, nary alien to lifting trophies successful Australia, was peculiarly keen to emphasise conscionable however swiftly circumstances tin change, citing the 1993 circuit of New Zealand erstwhile helium was catapulted into the Test squad conscionable weeks aft arriving arsenic a replacement for Wade Dooley.

Seeing Warburton and Jones besides reminded Itoje of what made some of them specified large captains to play under. “Sam wasn’t needfully the biggest talker but helium led done his actions,” said Itoje. “He was ever among the champion players and putting his assemblage connected the line. Alun Wyn was each pride, passionateness and Welsh energy. He’s incredibly professional, too, but helium besides speaks well. They’re some smart, selfless guys.”

Which, you suspect, is however Itoje volition look to beryllium perceived successful Australia. He could – and astir apt should – person been made England’s skipper overmuch earlier and has shown each motion of relishing the work since Steve Borthwick lobbed him the armband astatine the commencement of the year. Now 30, helium is astir to get joined – a two-legged fixture taking spot successful England and, aft the tour, Nigeria – and has agelong had a keen involvement successful issues acold beyond the adjacent lineout.

Maro Itoje gets distant from South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth during the 3rd Lions Test against South Africa successful August 2021. Photograph: Halden Krog/AP

Only the different week helium was holding tribunal successful Downing Street, discussing his mixed practice and looking arsenic comfy doing truthful arsenic if helium were previewing Saracens’ adjacent game. “I’m a rugby player, I’m an athlete,” helium said. “But that’s what I do, that’s not who I am. I person different interests, whether it’s philanthropy, whether it’s art, whether it’s politics.” He adjacent joked to Sir Keir Starmer that helium was enjoying himself truthful overmuch astatine the lectern that helium mightiness not permission No 10. “It was a precise chill experience. The premier curate is rather a engaged antheral with a fewer things connected his sheet – but helium was precise grateful I was determination and helium was enjoying the jokes I was cracking.”

It indispensable present beryllium hoped helium tin onslaught up a likewise bully rapport with Andy Farrell, who mightiness person preferred Ireland’s Caelan Doris had the second not unluckily been injured past weekend. The 2 alpha males whitethorn look polar opposites connected insubstantial – not galore Old Harrovians played for Wigan successful Farrell’s playing days – but what they bash stock is simply a relentless competitory edge.

“I privation this Lions squad to beryllium tough,” Itoje said. “I look astatine that guardant battalion and I spot a radical of pugnacious men. I privation america to beryllium an incredibly choky radical of players that person each other’s back. And I privation america to play with the passion, vigor and zeal you would expect of a Lions squad. Regardless of who plays, I deliberation that’s what the fans would expect of us.”

Quite so. Stir it each together, with a sprinkling of bully luck connected top, and you person the basal look upon which each palmy Lions tours are based. Make nary mistake, though, the 2025 Lions volition person to beryllium clever arsenic good arsenic energetic to decision Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies. Itoje, for one, is wary. “The Wallabies present are wholly antithetic to the Wallabies 2 years ago,” helium said. “They’re a talented squad … endowment has ne'er been their issue. Now they person a coaching radical who person got them organised, crisp and firing. They’ve got a big, almighty battalion and dynamic backs; they’re decidedly going to beryllium a challenge.”

Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou … Itoje is not incorrect to suggest Australia person immoderate earnestly dense artillery, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii also posing a immense aerial threat wider out. But if the touring squad tin support their champion players acceptable and foster the indispensable esprit de corps connected the different broadside of the world, Itoje could yet articulation that astir distinguished subset of Lions captains, namely those who person returned location victorious.

Strip distant the team’s glorious practice and it has happened lone erstwhile since Johnson’s 1997 squad famously overturned the Boks. The eventual accolade, consequently, comes laden with responsibility. “The overarching connection from each the captains was: one, bask it and two, spot yourself,” Itoje said. “Lean connected the prime radical you volition person astir you. I americium precise fortunate that erstwhile you look astatine the squad determination is simply a full load of talent, prime and enactment there. I deliberation betwixt each of america we tin bash thing special.”