If Maro Itoje did not already know that leading the British & Irish Lions was a big deal, he does now. Since his side took an unbeatable 2-0 series lead against the Wallabies he has even had a congratulatory message from the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, who was in Melbourne for the game last Saturday. Was he asking Itoje to consider dipping his toes into politics? “No, no … he has some world issues to try and sort out before that.”
Ask Itoje about his future vision for the Lions, however, and his manifesto is crystal clear. This tour has been the England captain’s third in a red jersey and with every passing year his personal appreciation of the Lions continues to grow. “It’s been without a shadow of a doubt one of the highlights of my career. When I am old and grey these occasions and these tours are going to be one of the experiences I look back on with extreme fondness.”
He also firmly believes that, for every top player, representing the Lions is a light that will never go out. “I would be surprised if you can find a British and Irish rugby player who says they don’t want to be a Lion. This is something the players will continue to want for decades and for as long as rugby is being played. It’s something I know provides a huge sense of excitement in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. And it adds an extra bit of spice and intrigue to the Six Nations when it’s a Lions year. So I am struggling to see the negatives. It is a great event and long may it continue.”
Coming from a man who is now one of just six living individuals to have captained a series-winning Lions squad – the others being Willie John McBride (1974), Finlay Calder (1989), Martin Johnson (1997) and Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones (2013) – it is a significant rallying cry. There are occasional moments, particularly in the ever-more detailed modern game, when the Lions can feel like an anachronism but nothing gives the concept more of a boost than an enjoyable series win.
Interestingly, Itoje is also of the opinion that the quadrennial Lions tour rota should not be casually altered, amid increasing support in high places for a potential tour to France one day. “I thought about this at the beginning of the tour. There’s a strong sense of history and tradition … part of me is keen for it to continue to rotate among the three countries it does. Also it wouldn’t feel the same if we took a short-haul flight. It needs a long‑haul flight!”
With a simply stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as the backdrop to the Lions’ first fitness session since clocking back on after 48 hours of celebrations, Itoje’s logic was easy to follow. There are many worse places to spend a week with a major series already in the bag but, as their captain was swift to reiterate, the Lions are still over here on business.
“We want to be part of something very special,” Itoje said, brushing aside any notion that he might wish to sit out the final Test. “Winning a Lions Test series is obviously extremely special but what would be an absolute dream would be to go out, perform to the level to which we think we can perform and win the third game.
“While the first two games have been great, there’s still a feeling that we haven’t put it together in a way we know we can. We want to chase down the performance we’ve been searching for. The Wallabies will be hungry and up for it but we also want to make some history this weekend.”
When he eventually sits back and reflects on this tour, however, it is not just the on-field glory that will stand out. As recently as last month, for instance, he would never have guessed he would be spending time with Ireland’s Jamie Osborne, let alone greeting the latter by his nickname. Itoje said: “I now know that whenever I play against him in the future I can call him ‘Showbiz’ and he will have that little smirk on his face.
“I also have a lot of admiration for Jac Morgan, who is a very, very talented player. I’ve respected him from afar and being alongside him has been amazing. Finlay Bealham is another one. I never thought we would have a good relationship, but he’s absolutely hilarious and a very endearing person. I can go through so many others.”
Even at the end of a marathon season, consequently, Itoje sounds like a captain who doesn’t want the tour to end. “It has been said before but, in many ways, it shouldn’t really work. You have four different nations, four different ideologies, several different ways of how to play the game and how to think. It is not a homogenous group but people buy in, you forge great relationships and you build bonds. That’s what makes it special.”
