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.”
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 transforming as a role of leadership ”
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.
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.”
“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.
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.
“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.”
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