Call for captain Maro now, Eddie
NICK CAIN TALKS TO MARO ITOJE ABOUT MOTIVATION, RACISM AND LEADERSHIP
MARO Itoje is already a trail-blazer who stands out from the crowd, and that makes him invaluable in a generation of English players not blessed with the captaincy gene.
Given the way that England stumbled in the Six Nations during Itoje’s absence with a knee injury, losing their way against Wales and then blowing a 31- point lead against Scotland, his credentials to replace his Saracens and England team-mate Owen Farrell as England captain are persuasive.
It is a call that, if England are to win the 2019 World Cup, Eddie Jones should make now. At 28 Farrell is no Test novice, but his ability to make the right calls at the right time –while also shouldering the goal-kicking and tactical responsibilities at fly-half – have been found wanting since he took over from Dylan Hartley in South Africa last summer.
While Farrell’s influential circle of supporters have been vociferous in his support since the second-half nose-dive against Scotland, the evidence suggests strongly that being able to adapt, and change tack, is not one of his many attributes.
As a forward Itoje is better placed to read the ebb and flow within a game, and when to make key tactical shifts. It is why every World Cup-winning captain in the pro era – stretching from Francois Pienaar in 1995, to Martin Johnson in 2003, to Richie McCaw in 2015 – has come from the pack.
Itoje has shown adaptability throughout his career, for example moving at Test level almost seamlessly from lock to blindside, and he has shown an uncanny capacity to out-think and outmanoeuvre opponents, whether at the line-out or the breakdown.
Itoje’s willingness to stand up and be counted, as well as to break new ground, were highlighted this week when he tackled the thorny issue of racism in football, and how it could impact on other sports, including Rugby Union.
If Jones has any doubts about the kudos the 24-year-old Itoje can bring as a talismanic young captain he need only revisit what he achieved on the Lions tour of New Zealand two years ago.
The army of Lions fans who descended on New Zealand gave him an accolade never before bestowed on an individual Lions player when their O-h, M-ar-o I-t-oj-e!chant reverberated around Kiwi stadiums.
The chant, sung to the riff in the White Stripes track, Seven Nation Army, was a salute to an exceptional young lock who, in only his second season at international level, had proved himself capable of going toe-to-toe successfully against Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, the two All Black second rows deemed to be the world’s best.
Even before the Lions tour Itoje had set out his stall with an extraordinary 31- match undefeated run in matches he started for club and country from May 2015 to September 2016. These included an England Grand Slam, Saracens winning their first European Cup title, and an unbeaten Red Rose tour of Australia.
Itoje, born in London to Nigerian parents, is an articulate advocate not just against the racist element in football, but also for the values in Rugby Union that he believes makes it a more tolerant, enlightened sporting environment than the round ball code.
”As a forward Itoje is better placed to read the ebb and flow within a game”
While Israel Folau’s most recent “fire and brimstone” fundamentalist Christian preaching on social media is a blot on the landscape, Itoje say rugby’s virtues are broadly intact – although he warns there is no room for complacency.
“One thing about rugby is you can have England v Wales, and (England) players will get a lot of stick from the Welsh fans, but it never goes overboard. You hardly ever hear of police having to come to a game to separate fans. The rugby community does a brilliant job at that – and we need to be proud of that. It sets a very good example.
“I’m not saying rugby fans are any less passionate about their sport, but fortunately they’re probably a little bit smarter, and have the right mindset to behave in a way that is less racist than football fans.”
Having gone to school at Saint George’s Harpenden, like Farrell, which is only a short hop from the Saracens training base at Old Albanians on the out skirts of St Albans, Itoje joined the sixth form at Harrow on a rugby scholarship.
He continued on the academic pathway by getting School off Oriental and African Studies in London while meeting the demands of a career at the same time.pro rugby
Itoje says that the work-life balance he struck during his student days has been reinforced, and he talks about an eclectic range of interests that replenish him so that when it comes to rugby he is fresh, and able to give his all.
“Rugby is a huge part of my life and has given me so much, hopefully I will give back to rugby as well. But rugby has never be en my sole goal. I don’t come from a rugby-playing family, so growing up I was never really encouraged to play rugby, it is something I have done off my own back.” ck.”
He adds:”What I have found since the age of 18 is that the other interests I have allow me mor to appreciate rugby so much to appreciate rugby so much
Itoje explains: “I am never going to be one of those people who is solely rugby. That is not to say I am not dedicated to the sport. I am completely dedicated, I want to master my craft.”
Howevever, he says the most effective way to do that is to match the time and space he devotes rugby with that he gives to his other interests.
“When I do that I have a bit more of a balance to my life. I feel as if I need some times to get my intellectual stimulation from different sources, different outlets, different people
“I am inter ested in social sciences and a lot of the ‘isms’ of this world. Racism obviousl being one of them. I am interested
”My role is to do whatever I can to make sure that our team wins”
He also has an interest in the performing arts. “I like theatre, musicals. I love Les Miserables –Les Mis is like my guilty pleasure. I like the Lion King, I have seen Motown the Musical, and The Bodyguard.
I live in London so there are quite a few on your doorstep….it stimulates my brain in a different way to rugby.”
He is also a fan of the rapper, Akala.
“He is an extremely articulate, intelligent human being and he lectures at some of the top universities…about a lot of the issues I am interested in: racism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, class structure in society, imperialism, post-imperialism.
All those things he is quite sharp on.”
English rugby was similarly sharp in recognising Itoje’s precocious athletic prowess, with Jones’ predecessor, Stuart Lancaster, flagging Itoje as a future star well before the 2015 World Cup.
However, Lancaster did not promote the youngster into his World Cup squad, despite Itoje’s outstanding contribution to the England U20 side that won the 2014 Junior World Championship in Auckland.
Having taken over the captaincy when Callum Braley was injured, Itoje’s leadership qualities were thrust into the limelight. He passed with flying colours, leading from the front with a clear-headed focus and determination which helped to inspire the side to victory over a gargantuan South African outfit.
His refusal to accept second-place infused his team-mates, and with a combination of wit and invention, as well as an unyielding defensive effort, they kept the South Africans at bay.
The drive to win, to be the best, has been a constant Itoje hallmark. It was evident in the way he overshadowed his Irish lock alter-ego, James Ryan, as England dominated the Six Nations opener in Dublin before he sustained the secondhalf injury which put him on the sidelines. Having recently returned to action with Saracens his sights are now set on derailing another Irish side, with Saturday’s European Cup semi-final against Munster at the Ricoh in view.
Saracens hold the psychological edge having beaten Munster 26-10 at the same stage in Dublin two years ago en route to their second European title, but Itoje is too savvy to make anything of it.
Instead, he says he has great respect for Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, who he got to know on the 2017 Lions tour. He says not only is O’Mahony a threat at the lineout and breakdown, but also a formidable leader of a Munster side whose characteristics he mirrors.
“There is no way you are playing a top four team in Europe and it will be easy, and Munster will be no different.
“Munster fight for everything, they have got lots of talented players – but we also have a very good team, and we also have a very good record in knock-out rugby. So, I don’t think we are going to be afraid of anything, but we know we are going to have to bring our A game.”
It is an authoritative, leader-like appraisal, yet Itoje is one of Farrell’s biggest advocates in the captaincy debate.
Asked if he is a captaincy candidate he responds: “Where we are at the minute, we have Owen, and I’m fortunate enough to have played with him for Saracens and with England pretty much all of my professional career.”
He continues: “First, I’ve seen him evolve as a person, and I’ve seen him evolve in leadership as well. He is an incredibly impressive leader, and I think he’s the right man for the job. When he becomes captain he communicates better, he speaks better, his demeanour is better, the way he thinks is clearer.
“You could probably count on one hand the players who have the rugby intellect that Owen has. There are not many who are as clued-in as Owen. I don’t need to talk about his playing ability, because that speaks for itself.”
He adds: “My role is to do whatever I can to make sure that our team wins. I just want to win. That’s what motivates me, and I will do my role within the team, wherever that may be, to do that.” Maro Itoje’s next role should be England 2019 World
ARSENAL v SPURS SHOCKED ME
MARO ITOJE says that a visit to watch an Arsenal v Tottenham north London derby in the Carabao Cup just before Christmas brought home to him the stark differences between rugby and football.
“I don’t have children, but I wouldn’t want to take my child to a football game – because I wouldn’t want them to see what was in front of me as an example of how to behave when you go to sports days.” “I went to the Emirates, and I was sitting just above the Tottenham fans, and I’m looking down.
I’m not saying the Arsenal fans were any better, but I was shocked by the amount of abuse, the amount of ridicule, the amount of horrible language that was used. The thing is these weren’t teenage boys, these weren’t just young adults, they were also middle aged men – men who I am sure have a family, men who have children of their own.”
