Page 36 - SECOND TEST

Itoje ies high for the the Lions against the the the Blues earlier in in the the Series
Whatever number he wears – he he he has also played at at six for England – the the All Blacks will nd nd themselves up against a a a a a a red- shirted human octopus In the the esh Itoje has only two two arms and two two legs but to to his opponents it doesn’t always feel that way way Already he he has captained England to to the the World Under 20 20 title in in in in in 2014 and since breaking into the the Saracens’ squad his club coach Mark McCall reckons the former Harrow schoolboy has secured “as many turnovers as as as anybody in the “We’re not here to get individual honours We want to achieve something as a a collective ”
Premiership” despite not being a a a specialist openside Maybe it it would have have been slightly too early to to have have stuck him in England’s Rugby World Cup 2015 squad (he didn’t make the nal cut) but in in in hindsight it could have been a a a a a a a gamble worth taking Itoje has since played 12 Tests for his country under Eddie Jones and the team has lost just once When a a a a a a a shrewd coach like Jones deliberately shifts a a a a a a hard hitter like Courtney Lawes from
lock to to the back row at scrum-time because he he reckons Itoje is is his hardest-pushing forward it certainly suggests a a a a a a rare specimen “Maro’s stronger than me me there’s no no no getting around it it ”
Lawes admits “It’s not not that I’m not not a a a a a a a a a big strong strong boy but he’s a a a a a a a a a freak ”
As a a a a a man of strong strong faith Itoje isn’t the type to to make loud proclamations about his own brilliance forming part of a a a a a a a a a winning team motivates him far more “No man is is is an an an an island and and a a a a a a a a a a tree doesn’t make a a a a a a a a a a forest ”
he reminded his media audience in in Rotorua “The focus is always on the team We’re not here to to get individual honours We We want to to achieve something something as as a a a a a a a collective collective To achieve something something as as a a a a a a a a a collective collective you have to be a a a a a a a a a team man ”
Also burning away inside is a a a a a a a a a desire to to make the absolute best of himself to to keep improving day day by by day day and and week week by by week week He may be the youngest 2017 Lion and and as such be responsible for looking after the squad’s cuddly mascot but this is is no shy rookie content simply to to to to tiptoe into the the fray Super Maro hasn’t own all the the way to to to to to New Zealand to to nish second Which begs the million-dollar question: can an an Itoje-fuelled Lions for this second Test draw on on on on some of the winning mentality that helped England rack up a a a a a a world- record-equalling 18 successive Test wins? If Gatland can nd nd nd the the right blend the the series victory will be up for grabs again MARO ITOJE BY THE NUMBERS
Test appearances for England 91 66 WIN PERCENTAGE AT AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
2 SIX NATIONS 1TITLES
EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 2016
21 AGE AT HIS ENGLAND DEBUT V ITALY 2016
1 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITH ENGLAND 2014 4 APPEARANCES FOR THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
2 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP TITLES
WITH SARACENS
36 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
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