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DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 35
IS IT A A A BIRD OR A A A PLANE?
No it’s Maro Itoje the fast-emerging superhero
of English rugby and potentially these 2017 Lions
too Need someone to to jump in in the the the lineout steal plenty of ball on on the the the oor push hard in the the scrum and after all all that relentless graft not not look like he he he has broken a a a a a a a a a a sweat? Do not not fear Maro is here Such lofty expectations can often
be a a a a a a dubious blessing especially for 22-year-old rugby players on on on their
rst Lions
expedition It’s no exaggeration even so to to to describe Itoje as the the the most exciting forward talent to to to emerge in in in the the the Northern Hemisphere game for years Imagine a a a a a a youthful Martin Johnson or or or Paul O’Connell with slightly more athleticism longer arms and and a a a a a a a a broader skill base and and you’ll begin to get the idea The stats are already racking up In 2015-16 Itoje was on the winning side in in in in 26 of of his 27 games for club and and country ticking off a a a a a a a a a domestic and and European double with with Saracens a a a a a a a a a a a a Six Nations grand slam with with England and and and a a a a a a a a a a a historic 3-0 series win win in in in Australia In the the northern winter he he he he he helped Saracens successfully defend their
European crown and and England once again take the the the Six Nations title When he he he he was on on on the the losing side in in in in in Ireland in in in in in March and and again in in in in in in last month’s Premiership semi nal against Exeter it felt distinctly odd If a a a a couple of of narrow losses is is is the full extent of of his second-season syndrome what on on on earth will he he he he achieve by by the time he he he he eventually nishes with rugby? He has already emerged as as a a a a a a a a a a a key man on this tour playing outstandingly against the the Maori All Blacks in in in in in Rotorua and and has been been relishing the the whole experience “It really has been been been cool I’ve enjoyed it it It’s been been nice to to to rub shoulders with with top top top top players and bond with with guys who you knew but didn’t really know ” Itoje says Nor is is this a a a a one-dimensional character solely obsessed with sport The London-reared son of Nigerian parents has been studying for a a a a a a degree in in politics at the University of of London’s School of of Oriental and and and and and African Studies and and and and and cites Mahatma Gandhi Nelson Mandela and and and and and Muhammad Ali among his heroes Pursuing a a a a a a range of outside interests is for Itoje not merely desirable but “Itoje has the hallmarks of a a a a a player who will feature on on a a a few more Lions
tours ” essential “Rugby is obviously a a a a big
part of my life but I feel as as if if it doesn’t
or shouldn’t de ne me as as a a a a a a a person ” he he he said in in in a a a a a a a recent interview “I have other other interests other other avenues that I’m interested in in in in in ” These have included watching a a a a a a a a number of documentaries about African political gures ranging from Idi Amin to Steve Biko and tweeting in in in in support of of International Women’s Day Nor is he he shy of of expressing an opinion if he he feels something needs saying: “If I I I feel feel comfortable in in in in in expressing a a a a a view I I I should be able able to to do it Sportspeople are are not not robots They’re not not just con ned to to to the the area they are known for ” Itoje says This can be easier said than done those who aspire to to sporting greatness can sometimes nd it it hard to to switch off But at at present the only thing that causes Itoje’s brow to to crease is is when people – – mostly journalists – – bring up the the poem he he he once wrote on on the the team bus en route to an an an away match You can understand why few few of us us would want a a a a a a few few rhyming couplets we penned as teenagers to be dredged up and recycled across the the internet as as has inevitably happened All the the world’s fame and fortune is probably not worth that repeated fate Better instead to focus on his impact on on the paddocks of New Zealand Warren Gatland’s side aren’t short of of quality second rows but Itoje – who also scored his rst Lions
try against the the Maori – has been displaying all all the the hallmarks of a a a a a a a a a a player who will feature on on a a a a a a few more more Lions
tours before he he is is nished “I think I’m now much more more stable in in in in terms of my emotions going into games ” he he says “When I I rst started playing senior rugby I I I was very anxious Now I’m more controlled and relaxed My knowledge of the game has increased and I have a a a a a a a a a a a a greater appreciation of what it takes to win ” PROFILE
Going into the the the Test series Maro Itoje was the the the name on on on the the the the lips of rugby fans on on on both sides But expectation is is something the the the English forward has dealt with from a a a a a a a young age – so so don’t expect the the pressure to to to get to to to him tonight WORDS: ROBERT KITSON