LAGOS MARCH 16TH (URHOBOTODAY)-England have unearthed a potential world-beater in Maro Itoje, the giant was magnificent against Wales. Maro Itoje, still only 21 years old, played a starring role for the Red Rose. Despite his young age, he has demonstrated fantastic leadership
Watching Itoje dominate proceedings at Twickenham on Saturday was a bit of a Damascus moment.
This superb young rugby player is going to become the template of what England and indeed European rugby need if they are really serious about beating southern hemisphere teams ever again.
We have been aware of Itoje’s enormous talent and potential for a while now. I had always thought England would be best using him in the back row for the next few years given his pace and agility as well as strength and power. He could cause havoc.
But actually, when you analyse it carefully, why would you do that? If you can have Itoje contributing so significantly in every facet of the game from second row, like he did during his man-of-the-match performance against Wales, why would you change that?
When you unearth or develop a player like Itoje it is that point of difference — a lock who can play like a Test back rower and handle like a back — which can make the most difference to your team. That is the way to get maximum value out of an exceptional player
My hope is that Itoje can help take England forward play to new heights. Itoje in no way neglected his duties in the tight role against Wales.
He was excellent in the line-out where his natural athleticism comes into play but also rolled up his sleeves when he needed to. He provided the basics you want from a Test lock and has a feisty edge to his play but it is the ‘extras’ he provided that marks out this young Saracen for great things.
His pace around the pitch with that big stride is startling and he uses that to make devastating tackles and become a big presence at the breakdown.
He has real jackal tendencies over the ball, he can take up a great body position for such a big man and is truly like a fourth back-row forward in that respect.
When he runs with the ball he can do the hard yards but he also looks for space and the offload.
We saw that in England’s first half try when he came round the corner to breathe life into an England attack that wasn’t really going anywhere to cut through the Wales defence and make the score for Anthony Watson.
Itoje is the antithesis of the big ‘ball-carrying’ front five forward that we still accept as the norm in the northern hemisphere.
I hate the term ‘ball-carrier’ with a vengeance.
Commentators, coaches and players all use it but where on earth has it come from? Ball-carriers are players who will mindlessly run at a brick wall all afternoon with little or no effect and think they have done a good job for the team.
In two words the term sums up the difference between European Rugby and the rugby played by the two world cup finalists, Australia and New Zealand.
I do not include South Africa as their rugby would fit well in the Six Nations. They seem to love the term ‘ball-carrier’ and that is why their rugby is going backwards.

Daily Mail