IT HAS TO BE ITOJE
Call for Maro to captain Lions
SAM WARBURTON has backed Maro Itoje to succeed him as captain of the British & Irish Lions.
Alun Wyn Jones is the bookies’ favourite to be appointed by Warren Gatland on May 6, having skippered Wales to Six Nations glory – the fifth title in his record-breaking career.
But Warburton, who led the Lions on successful series in Australia and New Zealand in 2013 and 2017, prefers 26-yearold Itoje for South Africa.
“Alun Wyn will be up there and I’m sure will captain games on tour,” said the Welshman. “And if he is captain you know you will be in safe hands.
“But the reason I see Maro as captain is he is a dead cert to start in the Tests, whereas it’s between Alun Wyn and James Ryan for the No.5 shirt. Warren knows the pressure it puts on the captain if he’s not a guaranteed starter.”
As does Warburton, who missed the start of the 2017 series through injury and had to move heaven and earth to get back for the final two Tests.
He said: “There are six bankers to start the Tests – Maro, Tadhg Furlong, Taulupe Faletau, Tom Curry, Anthony Watson and Stuart Hogg.
“Hogg has leadership experience but I don’t think Gatland will pick a back as captain so the [only] other of those who has, or will want it, is Maro.”
Unlike Jones, Itoje has not captained his country – or even his club. He also conceded more penalties than any player in the Six Nations, including five when playing against Jones’ Wales.
But Warburton said: “I was extremely impressed with him in 2017, and Warren would have seen all that.
“The other captaincy candidates are a little bit older than Maro and you question whether it would be a bit too much pressure for them to go through a tour like this at the end of the season.”
Itoje, a Lions cult hero in New Zealand four years ago, was one of five Saracens players to start the deciding Test. But his club’s relegation – leaving their players undercooked – hit England hard in the recent Six Nations.
Warburton conceded it could cost Elliot Daly and Billy Vunipola their Lions places but insists Owen Farrell and Jamie George will “100 percent” join Itoje on the plane. He said: “We need those Sarries boys playing well to have a good chance.”
●Sam Warburton was speaking as Canterbury launched the British & Irish Lions Test Jersey. Get yours from www.canterbury.com