England captaincy debate reopens after latest display

England lock Maro Itoje is “back to his best” according to the members of The Rugby Pod, with Jim Hamilton wondering whether handing him the captaincy would raise his game to “another level”.

Despite being on the losing side, the 85-cap lock put in a monumental effort against the All Blacks at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, wreaking havoc on the visitors’ lineout and popping up in some crucial positions with ball in hand, particularly in the first half.

While the 30-year-old has put in his share of standout performances for Saracens, England, and the British and Irish Lions across his career, the frequency of those performances has perhaps reduced in recent years, with Itoje admitting to battling an underlying health issue.

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But The Rugby Pod host Hamilton believes his former Saracens team-mate is back to the level he was earlier in his career, stating England have lacked players on that level in recent years.

Itoje was one of the candidates to take over as England captain earlier this year after Owen Farrell stepped away, and while Jamie George got the nod from Steve Borthwick, Hamilton believes the lock is playing like a captain currently, and has questioned whether handing him the extra responsibility will only improve his game.

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That is exactly what Saracens have done this season, making six-cap Lion club captain ahead of the new season, where he will lead his England skipper George. With the Lions tour at the England of the season, Itoje is also one of the front runners to lead Andy Farrell’s side in Australia.

George has led England well this year, but he is four years Itoje’s senior, which means this discussion will only surface again.

“I think it shows the importance of Maro Itoje,” Hamilton said when reflecting on England’s performance against the All Blacks.

“I think England have lacked him not being at his best, giving away a lot of penalties, but I think he’s now back to his best. It’s not just the lineout — England’s lineout was brilliant — but almost like the DNA of the team.

“You go through the ‘Old Guard’ of England. I know the 2003 lads were walking around the pitch, and I hate to reference that because it almost feels like a lifetime ago, but the likes of a Johnno, and these iconic figures that England had. England have lacked that over recent years. They’ve been so reliant on big personalities like Owen Farrell and the Vunipola brothers, and those players, as opposed to having one guy where you’re s***ting yourself coming out the tunnel.

“I think Maro, at that level, is a player who, at any moment in time, whether or not it’s in a lineout, he’s going to steal the lineout, not just in the air, but on the floor. He’s going to disrupt the maul, get a turnover in the breakdown as well. But he’s going to be that niggle around the kick chase, tapping balls back, not necessarily on his carry, but in every instance you’re actually worried about a player, and Maro’s now back at that level. I thought he was absolutely world-class.

“And then the question could be, because we’ve asked this question about Maro — I’m not saying Jamie isn’t good enough to be captain – but does someone like Maro? I know he’s vice-captain, a leader, he’s playing like a captain when you watch him play. Maybe that captaincy at some point takes him on to another level.”