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Do you know what really stuck out as Maro Itoje sat chatting in the O2 Arena after the British & Irish Lions squad announcement? His biceps. This year’s Lions jersey is tight enough on the shoulders and sufficiently short on the arms to make their already well-muscled captain look like Popeye on steroids. Say what you like about the Lions squad but they have chosen a strong leader.
It has worked for them in the past. Who can forget the pipe‑smoking Willie John McBride and his classic response – “Do you think there will be many of them?” – when an angry hotel manager in South Africa threatened to call the police to arrest a number of 1974 Lions who had been enthusiastically “rearranging” the furniture. Legend also has it that Ian McGeechan picked the hulking Martin Johnson as his skipper in 1997 partly because of the intimidating effect he might have on the Springboks – and the referee – when he entered their changing room.
A bit of presence, particularly when paired with sharp intelligence, can certainly go a long way in a Lions context. But all successful teams need brain as well as brawn. Which was something Itoje himself was suitably reminded of on Wednesday evening when he dined with illustrious Lions skippers from tours past. Imagine sitting there surrounded by Johnson, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and the rest of the chiselled-jaw immortals from rugby’s Mount Rushmore.
Maro’s last supper before officially entering the pantheon sounded quite an experience, because all the veterans had nuggets of advice for him. Johnson, no stranger to lifting trophies in Australia, was particularly keen to emphasise just how swiftly circumstances can change, citing the 1993 tour of New Zealand when he was catapulted into the Test team just weeks after arriving as a replacement for Wade Dooley.
Seeing Warburton and Jones also reminded Itoje of what made both of them such great captains to play under. “Sam wasn’t necessarily the biggest talker but he led through his actions,” said Itoje. “He was always among the best players and putting his body on the line. Alun Wyn was all pride, passion and Welsh energy. He’s incredibly professional, too, but he also speaks well. They’re both smart, selfless guys.”
Which, you suspect, is how Itoje will look to be perceived in Australia. He could – and probably should – have been made England’s captain much earlier and has shown every sign of relishing the responsibility since Steve Borthwick lobbed him the armband at the start of the year. Now 30, he is about to get married – a two-legged fixture taking place in England and, after the tour, Nigeria – and has long had a keen interest in issues far beyond the next lineout.
Only the other week he was holding court in Downing Street, discussing his mixed heritage and looking as comfortable doing so as if he were previewing Saracens’ next game. “I’m a rugby player, I’m an athlete,” he said. “But that’s what I do, that’s not who I am. I have other interests, whether it’s philanthropy, whether it’s art, whether it’s politics.” He even joked to Sir Keir Starmer that he was enjoying himself so much at the lectern that he might not leave No 10. “It was a very cool experience. The prime minister is quite a busy man with a few things on his plate – but he was very grateful I was there and he was enjoying the jokes I was cracking.”
It must now be hoped he can strike up a similarly good rapport with Andy Farrell, who might have preferred Ireland’s Caelan Doris had the latter not unfortunately been injured last weekend. The two alpha males may appear polar opposites on paper – not many Old Harrovians played for Wigan in Farrell’s playing days – but what they do share is a relentless competitive edge.
“I want this Lions squad to be tough,” Itoje said. “I look at that forward pack and I see a group of tough men. I want us to be an incredibly tight group of players that have each other’s back. And I want us to play with the passion, energy and zeal you would expect of a Lions squad. Regardless of who plays, I think that’s what the fans would expect of us.”
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Quite so. Stir it all together, with a sprinkling of good fortune on top, and you have the basic recipe upon which all successful Lions tours are based. Make no mistake, though, the 2025 Lions will have to be clever as well as energetic to defeat Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies. Itoje, for one, is wary. “The Wallabies now are completely different to the Wallabies two years ago,” he said. “They’re a talented team … talent has never been their issue. Now they have a coaching group who have got them organised, sharp and firing. They’ve got a big, powerful pack and dynamic backs; they’re definitely going to be a challenge.”
Will Skelton, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou … Itoje is not wrong to suggest Australia have some seriously heavy artillery, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii also posing a huge aerial threat wider out. But if the touring team can keep their best players fit and foster the necessary esprit de corps on the other side of the world, Itoje could yet join that most distinguished subset of Lions captains, namely those who have returned home victorious.
Strip away the team’s glorious heritage and it has happened only once since Johnson’s 1997 squad famously overturned the Boks. The ultimate accolade, consequently, comes laden with responsibility. “The overarching message from all the captains was: one, enjoy it and two, trust yourself,” Itoje said. “Lean on the quality people you will have around you. I am very fortunate that when you look at the squad there is a whole load of talent, quality and leadership there. I think between all of us we can do something special.”
