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Maro Itoje growing into Lions leadership role after dominant performance against Queensland Reds | Rugby Union News

Sam Warburton described the performance of Captain Maro Itoje as “brilliant” while the British and Irish lions have accumulated 52 victory points on Queensland’s Reds, while Kyle Sinckler thinks that his former teammate in England has grown in his role as leadership.

Itoje marked his authority over the Lions with a dominant screen while the Reds were exceeded 52-12 at the Suncorp stadium.

Make his first appearance in Australia as a captain of the Lions, Itoje was at the heart of a rout of eight series which saw the skipper of England, which marked his own trial, left his business card on Brisbane two and a half weeks of the first test in the same place.

The captain of the Lions twice, Warburton, speaking on Sky Sports, said: “Itoje was great. Without for bullets on the ground, line speed, interceptions. He had about five reversals today just to fight for leftover on the ground.

“He was dynamicing the scrum-in-time pack with a non-stop voice and energy. These are irrepartive things, but that’s what you have to do at the test. It was exceptional today.

“Maro seems imperturbable, very composed. You bring the fire pre-match in the locker room, but you are then composed on the ground.”

The captain of the British and Irish lions Maro Itoje leads his team on the ground in Brisbane
Picture:
The captain of the British and Irish lions Maro Itoje leads his team on the ground in Brisbane

On the leadership of Itoje, Warburton added: “It is this calm and composed nature but you are always fierce in everything you do

“Maro seems imperturbable, very composed.

“When it is time for decision -making to a penalty, he does not rush into these decisions. He is calm.

“You bring the first match in the locker room, but you are made up on the field. This is what I like at home.”

Itoje savoring the role of captain of the lions

Captain of Lions Maro Itoje:

“I love being separated from this team. I appreciate the challenge and spend time with all these great players that we have spent years fighting. I appreciate the process and that it can continue.”

“ Itoje transforming as a role of leadership ”

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The British and Irish Lions Maro Itoje says that he is enjoying the role of the captain and praises the efforts of his team after their 52-12 victory against the Queensland Reds.

Itoje has only become captain of England in January, succeeding his teammate of Saracens Jamie George in what was a surprise decision at the time.

However, the 30 -year -old grew up in stature on and off the field, the lover to be appointed Captain of Lions for the tour in Australia.

Sinkler, a former ITOJE teammate with the Lions and England, believes that the second row has really become its leadership role.

Maro Itoje
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Maro Itoje

The Double Lion Sinckler said: “When you play alongside Maro and it is at its best, it’s so contagious. It was a nuisance around the rucks and the room.

“He looked in calm around him when things were shaking a little early. You can see that he really became this leadership role.”

“ As captain, you must hit peaks at the right time ”

The captain of the lions twice Sam Warburton on what you need as a captain:

“Pre-heating, the boys do not want to be excited. When they were clams and listened, it was then that I was always talking about the three tactical things on which we focus this week.

“Traview, that’s when I became quite heated. It’s like that.

“However, then in the field, when you communicate with the referee, you bring him back and you are composed again.

“You have to hit these peaks at the right time. You can’t hit them all the time because there is too much noise. Sometimes you have to step back and let others talk and advance the team.

“You need the mixture of being able to run the engine, then to be this politician.”

“ITOJE role key for tests”

Having a Lions captain at the test series was not simply simple during previous tours.

Alun Wyn Jones underwent a shoulder injury when the Tour was opened in 2021, but recovered in time to lead the Lions in the series of tests against South Africa. Warburton had his own injury problems during the 2017 tour in New Zealand, while Brian O’Driscoll was injured in the first stages of the first test against the All Blacks in 2005.

Maro Itoje
Picture:
Maro Itoje

The former Lions coach, Sir Ian McGeechan, thinks that it is essential for the Lions that ITOJE plays in the test series, saying that the attacker can be a coherent voice for the players while the coach staff try to get their message across.

“You need your captain there,” said McGeechan.

“What people underestimate about Martin Johnson is that he has a good head on the game and knows what you need and when.

“The game we wanted to play in 1997, he continued to talk about it in the field, so everyone was in tune.

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Head coach of the British and Irish lions, Andy Farrell, says that he does not know the extent of Elliot Daly’s injury after their complete victory over Queensland Reds.

“Sat [Warburton] was the same. You have captains that understand the game and take what you have done by dragging yourself on the field.

“It is only these little conversations that Iit will have with the players where the message never changes. It is always the same, so there is a clarity through the team on what you want to do afterwards.”

What is the next step: British and Irish Lions Tour in Australia on Sky Sports

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Look at the tour of the British and Irish Lions in Australia by living exclusively on Sky Sports this summer.

Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and six warm -up matches to show exclusively live.

Hours of the British and Irish Lions tour 2025

Date Opponent Place
Friday June 20 Argentina (L 28-24) Dublin
Saturday June 28 Western force (W 54-7) Puffer
Wednesday July 2 Queensland Reds (W 52-12) Brisbane
Saturday July 5 NSW WARATAHS Sydney
Wednesday July 9 Act Brumbies Canberra
Saturday July 12 Au-nz invitation Adelaide
Saturday July 19 Australia (first test) Brisbane
Wednesday July 22 First Nations and PASIFIKA XV Melbourne
Saturday July 26 Australia (second test) Melbourne
Saturday August 2 Australia (third test) Sydney

Howden Insurance – Senior Partner and Sponsor in front of the British and Irish lions shirt. Learn more here.

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