World Rugby made a mistake by picking Beauden Barrett as Player of the Year
It’s a bold statement in favour of the England lock, because Barrett had a firecracker season for New Zealand and the Hurricanes, but Itoje’s was stellar. It is a claim that stands up to forensic scrutiny, and starts with how rare it is to find a 21-year-old who can hold his own in the most unforgiving part of the international rugby jungle – the tight five.
That’s the terrain where young whippersnappers habitually get chewed up and spat out by the big beasts. It’s where having gargantuan man-strength is a pre-requisite and explains why, when you find a young forward who not only thrives but almost instantly becomes a dominant presence, like Itoje, it is a once in a generation discovery.
A measure of Itoje’s impact is how he compares with Martin Johnson. Where Johnson won his first cap when he was almost 23, Itoje won his three months after his 21st birthday – and despite being almost two years younger looked even more to the manner born than the Leicester giant in his first international season.
Since making his debut off the bench in last season’s Six Nations win over Italy in Rome, Itoje has played with a muscularity and maturity that belies his years, going on to spur England to Grand Slam glory and a summer tour clean-sweep over Australia, and his club towards a European Cup and Premiership double.
What has marked him out as special is the remarkable influence he has on matches, using his panther-like athleticism to make key turn-overs, carries, tackles and line-out steals all over the pitch with uncanny frequency. He is a constant menace to the opposition because he is never out of the game, and invariably does damage.
This was reflected in Itoje’s remarkable 31-game, 16 month winning run for club and country, which was halted only at the end of September when Saracens lost narrowly at Harlequins.
However, what Itoje and Barrett, above, have in common is that they will be marked men in 2017, and Eddie Jones has already warned the young lock that he will be singled-out.
When Itoje was up for interview at the Saracens training ground near St Albans this week he said he had no illusions that he was in for an easy ride.
“I definitely think that for me individually, the hard work starts now. Last year was a tough year, but most things went our way in terms of club and country. This year it’s a new challenge, and when new opportunities come everyone will be more competitive.”
When I asked him if he was conscious, for instance, that Billy Vunipola was singled out for special attention by Racing in the European Cup final he said it was part of the job description.
“I think that’s what happens… every (opposition) team has a slightly different game plan and they highlight certain individuals. Billy is one of our best players – so, if that’s the case, that’s no surprise. For me, it’s about paying attention to my own game.
“I’m only 22, I’ve got a lot more to develop. I’m surrounded by great coaches, and great players as well. And I think I’m humble enough to know that I’m nowhere near the finished article – and that if I stay complacent that will ultimately lead to my decline.”
Ask Itoje if he’s ever lost his temper when he’s being niggled or heavily marked and there’s a moment of light relief as he brings the Saracens Press officer, Matt Hennessey, into play.
“I don’t think I’ve lost my temper since I’ve become a professional. Matt, have I lost my temper?” Hennessey responds, “Only with me, Maro!”
Itoje then goes into 007 mode, saying: “I stay cool, calm and collected.”
That is certainly how Saracens operated against Sale last weekend, but comparing what Barrett did for the Hurricanes with Itoje’s contribution for the European champions is not an exact science. This is mainly because the Wellington franchise play in only one competition – the Super 18 – whereas the English club play in the Premiership as well as Europe.
Yet, it again points to Itoje’s influence having stronger legs. In winning the Super 18 title, the Hurricanes played 20 games, losing four of them, whereas Saracens played 24 before claiming the Premiership title – a month more rugby than the Hurricanes – and also lost four.
However, Saracens won an additional nine out of nine to win the European Cup, with Itoje leaving such an imprint that he won the man-of-the-match awards in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Furthermore, where Itoje’s Saracens travelled to Lyon to do a number on Dan Carter’s Racing 92 , Barrett’s Hurricanes enjoyed home advantage in Wellington against the Lions. The other obvious issue is that while Barrett is a mercurial runner and arch-opportunist, as a goal-kicking fly-half he is hit-and-miss, and not in the same league as Itoje’s team-mate, Owen Farrell.
The New Zealander has taken a much longer time to make his mark than Itoje, having won his first All Black cap nearly five years ago, and I am not persuaded that his contribution to the All Blacks in a poor Rugby Championship matched that of Itoje in England’s resurrection after their World Cup crash.
As for Barrett’s input in the All Blacks 18-match record run, eight of those wins came the previous season and in the World Cup. Of the remaining ten, three were against an injury-hit Wales and the remainder against Southern Hemisphere opponents whose shortcomings were exposed by Six Nations sides this autumn.
Talk to Mark McCall about where Itoje is following his return to action after the hand-injury which kept him out of the autumn series, and the message from the Saracens rugby director is that he’s arrived as a world-class forward, and he’s here to stay.
“You can only judge by how you see him train, prepare and play – and in all those things he has not blinked. Last weekend (against Sale) he was phenomenal, and I am sure he will be (in the return leg) this weekend as well.”
McCall adds that Itoje, was born in Camden to Nigerian parents, has become stronger and more explosive due to the work he has done during his six weeks out: “Everyone thinks the improvement will stop, but I don’t see him stopping… Maro is a very ambitious young man and his drive will be to get on that Lions tour. He is going to get stronger. He is just incredibly determined.”
Those assets have earned him so many man-of-the-match awards that his Saracens team-mates have dubbed him ‘Super Maro’ – and there was another against Sale. Itoje plays down the recognition.
“Last week was my first man-of-the-match award of the season, so one out of about ten games is not that many! There are individuals here who call people out if they think they are getting too ahead of themselves. If they think you are too big for the team, the team quickly chop you back down to size.”
However, while he will take it from his team-mates, the signs are that opponents will find it increasingly difficult to take a chunk out of Maro Itoje. As for world player of the year, he would never dream of appropriating the title – but last season it was no contest.
