MARO: I WANT TO PLAY ABROAD
Saracens superstar reveals the overseas adventure on wish list
MARO ITOJE heads into club rugby’s match of the season revealing an ambition to one day take his career overseas.
The England star insists he has no plans in place and his sole focus is helping Saracens deliver a ‘statement’ performance in today’s heavyweight European Cup quarter-final at Leinster.
But he admitted: “At some stage I would love to play abroad. When the time is right I’d love to spend at least a season somewhere.
“I’ve had a great life and I’m very privileged to play the sport
I love but experiencing a different culture, a different style, a different vibe would be great. I definitely wouldn’t rule out playing abroad in the future.”
Defeat in Dublin would end Saracens’ season and fast forward the humiliation of their year in the Championship as punishment for salary cap breaches.
Itoje came close to avoiding it by agreeing a season-long loan to Paris outfit Racing 92 ahead of next summer’s Lions tour, but the move fell through in March. As things stand, he says, he will turn out in the second tier.
Not that the 25- year- old is contemplating anything but a win today to keep Sarries’ campaign alive and set up a semi-final next week ek against either Clermont mont or Racing.
It is a huge ask given Leinster have won all 25 of their games since going down to the Londoners in last season’s final.
Worse still, Sarries have lost half their side from that game and have Farrell banned, yet Itoje claimed: “It feels like the team is coming together at the right time.
“We have a serious team – one with special individuals and big
characters who really love these types of games and relish these kinds of opportunities.
“We never go into games just to participate. We just need to put it all together and we’ll be fine.”
Alex Goode (above) moves to flyhalf in place of Farrell, with Elliot Daly switching to fullback. Fitness doubts Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth both start.
Johnny Sexton comes in at 10 for
Leinster after starting last week’s Pro14 final on the bench. Scrum-half Luke McGrath, hooker Sean Cronin and flanker Will Connors also return.
And, for all his optimism, Itoje concedes that Saracens will need to lift their game to a “different level”.
But he says that ahead of their demotion they plan on delivering a display which reminds both Europe and the Premiership that, even in their absence, they will remain top dogs.
Tomorrow,KO 5.30pm
JONNY GRAY will make his Champions Cup debut for Exeter tomorrow charged with helping transform the Chiefs from Euro flops into kings of the continent.
The Devonians have never gone beyond the last eight in the competition – but Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter believes forward Gray and Scotland team-mate Stuart Hogg can be the agents for change as they line up against Northampton for the rescheduled quarter-final. Gray (above) played for Glasgow in the tournament before the shutdown, and Baxter said: “In Europe we have been relatively inexperienced compared to the teams who regularly enter the top eight.
“These are the games they have been targeted for. Jonny is yet to play for us in Europe but everything we have seen from him so far is very good so it will be interesting to see how it goes. When he plays for Scotland he stands out every game.” Exeter are without injured wings Alex Cuthbert and Olly Woodburn but are hot favourites with Saints out of sorts since the restart. Meanwhile, former England second row Geoff Parling has been appointed Australia’s new forwards coach under Dave Rennie.