WHOLE HOGG

Lions must go the

MARO ITOJE lacks the captaincy experience to lead the British and Irish Lions, according to Wales legend GarethThomas.

Itoje is the choice of ex-skipper Sam Warburton for the forthcoming tour to South Africa on the strength of being a guaranteed Test starter.

But Thomas begs to differ and believes head coach Warren Gatland will opt for the vast experience of Alun Wyn Jones when he announces his choice a week tomorrow.

“You’re asking someone to take on a responsibility, the lead role, in one of the biggest events in world sport,” he said.

“Captaining the Lions is a huge job. And while I think Itoje is a fantastic player, you have to have captained in international rugby for a long while previously – or certainly to have experience of it.”

Itoje, above, has not worn the England armband at senior level whereas Jones, the world’s mostcapped player with 148 appearances, has led Wales to multiple Six Nations titles and captained the 2013 Lions to glory in Sydney. “My choice would be Stuart Hogg,” said Thomas, the last back to skipper the Lions in the final two Tests of the 2005 series in New Zealand. “That will surprise some people but, for me, Stuart is guaranteed his shirt and he did a brilliant job leading Scotland from full-back to wins in England and France.

“What I like so much is that he plays at the same high level whether for his country Scotland or his club Exeter.

“A player who does that is worthy of the tag of world class and my experience of captaining from the back field is that you see the game more clearly away from the thick of the forward scrap.”

But Gatland has a history of preferring forwards as his leaders.

“Gats has had guys such as Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton and Lawrence Dallaglio,” said Thomas. “He understands and likes the back-five influence.

“I’ve no problem with that because you can’t argue with Alun Wyn’s leadership ability and qualities.With him in charge, I can’t see anything other than the Lions coming out on top.”

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