Maro the Lion king

IRELAND GREAT FLANNERY BACKS ITOJE TO CAPTAIN TOURISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

MARO ITOJE has been backed to captain the British and Irish Lions next summer as he is “nailed on” to make the Test team.

The endorsement comes not from a Saracens club mate, nor even a fellow England star, but from Ireland great Jerry Flannery.

Flannery knows well the qualities required to captain the Lions in South Africa having spent his career playing alongside Paul O’Connell – skipper last time the Lions took on the Springboks, in 2009.

In Itoje he sees another top-quality second row forward who leads by example.

Flannery, now lineout coach at Harlequins, said: “There’s a lot of competition and the obvious guys are Alun

Wyn Jones and Owen Farrell, who are already captaining countries.

“Your captain has to be someone who is pretty much nailed on to play, and going through those options, Owen and Alun Wyn are both fantastic players.

“Itoje doesn’t have the same leadership experience as those two, but he is nailed on to be in the side – as is James Ryan who is going to make a significant improvement in the next 12 months.

“With these guys it is going to come down to form, because their leadership qualities are not in question – but if I were to bet, I would be betting on Itoje.

“The captaincy does not have to go to a forward, but it would be a benefit to the Lions to have someone like Itoje.

“When you are playing against South Africa you know they’re not going to try to play around you – they’re going to try to play through you. It’s going to be very confrontational.”

Flannery, 41, was selected for the 2009 Lions only for injury to wreck tour hopes prior to departure.

Now, after work at Arsenal as a strength and conditioning coach, Flannery has moved to Quins – where he is already impressed by the Londoners’ young playmaker Marcus Smith.

“He’s got X-factor and can produce magic,” said the Munsterman. “The more I work with him, the more I see he is a real student of the game.”