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It was a day that always felt destined to come. From the moment Maro Itoje pulled on a shirt in England in 2016, a 21-year-old lock looking just home at Test level, it seemed all but certain he would one day ascend to the top offices.
The qualities that marked Itoje as a special talent back then remain after his elevation to captain. A leader by action and word, the second row is approaching his second decade in an England shirt without yet being under serious threat for his place in the side; Even in the midst of a worrying battle with a health issue a few years ago, the exact details of which remain undisclosed, Itoje endured as one of his team’s top performers. When Eddie Jones dismissively referred to Itoje as “inward looking” and the wrong type of leader for his team during his tenure as coach, the Lock took the criticism on the chin, bowed and is improved – but refused to bend or buckle down on her style.
“If you look at the great leaders of the past, the common trait among them is authenticity,” he told The independent In October, perhaps suspecting that his ortoration might soon arrive. Having been confirmed as Saracens captain at the start of the season, and with Jamie George making it unlikely that next World Cup, the likelihood was always that Itoje would end up captaining England in the tournament in Australia in 2027.
His time is now. “When I asked him to captain the team, the smile that spread across his face could have lit up all of England,” said Steve Borthwick, after meeting Itoje the morning before confirming his Six Nations squad vital. “He will do everything he can to help serve this team and be the best leader he can be.
“I came back into the England team as head coach two years ago and it struck me with Maro – having been away for several years from the England team and not before not trained during this period – he thinks very well under pressure. He remains calm under pressure. He is a guy that the diligence of how he does his job every day is first class.
“He’s a guy I saw as a schoolboy when I was a player at Saracens and seeing him start to come through. We then saw the emergence of someone who was always going to be a world-class player. Now he is a world-class player for whom we all have incredible respect.
“When I spoke with Maro, I said I wanted him to captain his way. Everyone sees the commitment with which he plays. Every England fan sees the commitment with which he plays. When you have someone who fights that hard for the shirt and for his team, he’s someone that everyone can relate to. It’s “I would like to be led by this man.” »
Itoje’s pedigree as a leader is significant, which has always made Jones’ comments perplexing. A junior World Cup captain with the England Under-20s, he quickly rose to prominence at Saracens, even in a team boasting some of the game’s biggest personalities. England’s last three permanent captains were all drawn from north London and Itoje will no doubt have learned a lot from Owen Farrell and George, who remains a lieutenant.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for George, who has served the office impeccably even during significant issues both personally and for the team. Always willing to face before and after even the most desperate of defeats, the hooker spoke with refreshing frankness and charm. His demotion is not necessarily a reflection of his performance levels, with the 34-year-old remaining the best set operator in the English game.
But Borthwick decided it was time for a change. It comes in part from a desire to maintain continuity of captaincy on the field throughout the entirety of the contest. Itoje, who has regularly taken on the role of skipper following his teammate’s substitution over the past 12 months, is an 80-minute man; George, largely by dint of his position, is not. His starting point may still be under threat as Theo Dan and Gabriel Oghre develop, and Luke Cowan-Dickie finds resurgent form.
There is also an element, however, of England that requires a shake-up. While Itoje is a long-term appointment that Borthwick sees as leading the team to the 2027 World Cup, it is also a decision made by a coach under intense scrutiny. However impressive George was as a leader, he presided over a team that won only five of 12 games in 2024. Although he may, privately and correctly, point out that he was largely out of the field when these matches have been lost, it is not the time to stick with the status quo.
“He’s a wonderful rugby player and I think he is, for so long, has been central to this England team and such an incredible influence in English rugby,” Borthwick said of George.
“It was a difficult conversation. He was clearly disappointed but at the same time, he also always puts the team first. Everyone can see the competition for places in Hooker. »
As the coaching staff and the rest of the team settled in, options for change were limited. Even with Sam Underhill, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and George Furbank as significant injury absentees, it looks like major changes to Borthwick’s favored side. Genge and Will Stuart are almost certain to be the starting props; An in-form Chessum Ollie will feature alongside Itoje, Ben Earl and probably George Martin in the back five. The balance of playmaking, as always, will dominate the discussion ahead of the tournament: Marcus Smith has expressed a desire to remain at fly half, although his flexibility to play out of the back offers an intriguing tactical option.
Saracens red-hot form No.8 Tom Willis, just about the best player in the Premiership this season, may force a half-five overhaul, although that could happen as the campaign progresses, with the England’s six nations start off particularly demanding. Borthwick refused to confirm suggestions that the blitz defense which faltered in November would be carried out, although a need for street smarts could lead to subtle changes in approach with Ireland and France first.
“If we were characterized in 2024 as a line speed team, I want us to be a line speed team as we continue. Obviously there are pieces in all areas of the game that you tweak and evolve to improve and I expect that to be the case as soon as we get players into camp next week,” Borthwick explained .
“I think there’s a lot of consistency with how we want to play. A year ago I talked about us developing on the attacking side of the ball and that continues. The nature of the team changes; England are historically a team with a big forward pack. We have a fast, athletic back row and a fast, athletic back row and we will play accordingly. “
