Itoje is not at his snarling best, he needs to take a rest
THAT was a fantastically gutsy effort from Saracens, but ultimately they were well-beaten by a highclass Leinster team. The Premiership’s failure to produce a European Cup semi-finalist sums up a poor season for England and English rugby. We have been asking our top players to go to the well too often and in the season after a Lions tour we have seen the consequences with fresher Irish players — rested more often domestically — underpinning Leinster and Munster’s campaigns, while many Scarlets missed out on the New Zealand tour. That’s an observation, not a criticism. I am a huge admirer of Maro Itoje, for example. I see in him the new Martin Johnson and when I say he’s not at his very peak at present I speak as a sympathetic coach who has seen it happen to other outstanding players. Maro is not the snarling, supercharged player of 2016 and 2017. He’s a young man who needs a rest this summer and a chance to re-energise. The same applies to Mako Vunipola who somehow dredged out a wonderful performance yesterday. That tells you so much about his pride, but he needs a break as well. As for Leinster, they have the look of champions. Yesterday was potentially tricky with all the Ireland guys coming from national duty but they have another gear or two yet and you can only look on in admiration at a young gun like Dan Leavy coming through and underlining his Six Nations form. Should England and the Premiership clubs be worried? Yes, absolutely. At best they have stood still for a year, arguably regressed, while their main rivals — and I include France and French clubs — have improved. You get the feeling all the top international teams are now relishing the opportunity to play England. I hope Eddie Jones and those responsible for the health of English rugby understand what they are now facing. What struck me this weekend was how well Chris Ashton played at full back for Toulon. He seems to have tightened his defence and appears incredibly fit. Like Jonny Wilkinson, he looks an even more consummate player for his time in France and I will never understand or agree with the decision to bar him and others from England consideration for trying to become better.