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'Ate us alive' - England's win ended the Itoje vs Ryan debate as fans crown the winner the future Lions captain
Maro Itoje was crowned the official man-of-the-match in England’s win over Ireland in the Pool A clash of the Autumn Nations Cup, after an outstanding display by the second rower at Twickenham.
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The 26-year-old made a nuisance of himself at line out and at the breakdown, disrupting Ireland’s attack while punishing them behind the gain line with dominant hits, delivering the type of performance he is renown for.
England’s lock made 25 tackles, missing none, whilst also winning two of England’s seven turnovers. England’s pack powered over Ireland after they built an 18-0 lead on the back of two tries to Jonny May before a late try to Jacob Stockdale added some respectability to the scoreboard for Ireland.
Itoje’s ‘take no prisoners’ attitude was praised by fans, who described him as ‘absolutely relentless in defence’ and ‘the greatest second row in the modern game’. Irish fans said that he ‘ate us alive’ as they could only watch their side fall to England for the fourth time in a row.
Top player Maro Itoje, takes no prisoners: this guy was built for this role. Special mention to Jonny May mention, full of running…#ENGvIRE
— Joshua Nagenda (@joshuanagenda) November 21, 2020
Itoje truly deserved Player of the Match. He never gives up the fight. Absolutely relentless in defence. What a leader! #ENGvIRE
— Maggie Alphonsi MBE (@MaggieAlphonsi) November 21, 2020
Maro Itoje, world class. Consistently world class.
Not sure why he doesn’t get the respect from some rugby fans, maybe because he plays for Saracens and brings so much energy, but he is phenomenal.
Unbelievable athlete and rugby player. #ENGvIRE #AutumnNationsCup
— Mana Rugby (@mana_rugby) November 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/HugoGordon1/status/1330193205669859328
Maro Itoje greatest 2nd row of the modern game. #ENGvIRE
— Felix Unger (@Husker_Ju) November 21, 2020
Jonny May: 18
Maro Itoje defence: 7#ENGvIRE— Alex Skitt (@alexBskitt) November 21, 2020
Irish lineout a major issue. Itoje and Launchbury spoiling and refusing to give them a foundation to build on in the 22 #ENGvIRE
— Nick (@Winn1) November 21, 2020
Many fans were intrigued by the battle up front between Maro Itoje and Ireland’s new captain James Ryan, who are both tipped to be the first choice Lions second row in 2021 in South Africa.
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Ryan had delivered an impressive performance in a losing side the last time the two sides met earlier in the year at Twickenham, elevating his stock as one of Europe’s premier locks. Itoje, widely regarded as Europe’s best, relished the challenge against the man challenging him for his title.
English fans weren’t happy with the assertion that Ryan had reached the same level as Itoje, claiming Irish fans had ‘some audacity’ for doing so and that this match could finally put to bed the debate between the two.
The audacity of the Irish calling James Ryan as good as Itoje. Itoje teaching him how a lock plays today
— Matt (@MattRawlinson96) November 21, 2020
Can people stop talking about Ryan in the same breath as Itoje now? They’re not even close!#ENGvIRE
— Ed Tucker (@Teddybreath) November 21, 2020
Is there a game that Maro Itoje hasn't dominated James Ryan? Nothing against Ryan, just shows how good Itoje is? #ENGvIRE
— Adam?? (@ajsrugby) November 21, 2020
James Ryan must have nightmares about Maro Itoje. #ENGvIRE
— Stuart Turner (@OnlyOneT) November 21, 2020
Itoje again, absolutely grounding Ryan, such a strong player in contact #ENGvIRE
— James David Stokes ? (@JamesStokesLX) November 21, 2020
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One fan was in disbelief about the assertion of Ryan as the next captain of the British & Irish Lions, with the Irish lock ‘not a guaranteed starter’ unlike Itoje who is seen as being in a different league to the Leinster-product.
A couple of weeks ago on a twitter discussion about who will captain the next Lions team. I couldn’t believe some ppl suggesting James Ryan. A v good player he surely is but like most current 2nd rows not in the same league as Itoje& unlike itoje is not a guaranteed lions starter pic.twitter.com/CWogZhNLsO
— Joe Healy (@joehealyfarmer) November 21, 2020
Naturally, the debate skewed towards the Lions tour where many fans were ready to claim Itoje as the next Lions captain. One fan claimed it would be like Martin Johnson in ’97, who famously lifted the Lions to a successful tour of South Africa, while another claimed he should ‘definitely’ be the captain in South Africa with ‘no one even close’.
As things stand, Mako, George, Itoje and the back row are looking like 6 of the starting Lions pack in South Africa. Could all change in a few months time though #ENGvIRE
— David Summers (@davidsummers64) November 21, 2020
Itoje for Lions captain? Like Johnson in 97….#ENGvIRE
— Lee Bridgeman (@Lee_A_Bridgeman) November 21, 2020
Most important thing I took from the Victory over Ireland is that Itoje should definitely Captain the Lions in South Africa. #ENGvIRE #AutumnNationsCup
— Rob Southwell (@HEELSouthwell) November 21, 2020
Itoje has gotta be Lions captain surely #ENGvIRE
— caz ? (@carysjordaan) November 21, 2020
Itoje is a lock for British and Irish Lions captain, no one even close #ENGvIRE
— N. Hollis (@SecondRowSaint) November 21, 2020
Maro Itoje building step by step his Lion's captancy… what an impact he had today!
— DanPatRugby (@DanPatRugby) November 21, 2020
After recieving his man-of-the-match award, Itoje said the game was a building block for his side who are moving in the right direction.
“It was a good game,” he said, “We started the first half really well and Ireland had their purple patch at the beginning of the second half and we kind of wrestled thereafter.
“I think it’s another step forward. Game on game we’re building and going in the right direction. You can’t take wins for granted so I’m really happy with that.
“I think our relentless application gets our forward pack going – we pride ourselves in that area and today was just another opportunity to show it.”
What a performance ?@maroitoje? ?#QuilterInternationals #ENGvIRE #AutumnNationsCup pic.twitter.com/Fehm6bdoZF
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 21, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments