MARO ITOJE

had just played in one of the rugby matches of his life. Against 14 men or not, to be in the first British and Irish Lions team to win in New Zealand since 1993 is a special experience that should live with him for ever. He had a fine game, too, thoroughly vindicating his inclusion. A Lions official led him towards the media. ‘How long do I have to be here?’ he asked, petulantly. ‘Ten minutes,’ he was told. He attempted to take the official’s phone and set a stopwatch. Charming. His first answers were monosyllabic. The reaction of the assembled rugby writers suggested they were not typically confronted by rudeness. Itoje is a client of the Stellar Group, a company that more typically represents footballers. One would like to think these factors are unrelated, although sadly, perhaps not.