Maro Itoje’s career-defining night: It wasn’t the perfect display but with the game in the balance he elevated himself into the pantheon of Lions greats, writes NIK SIMON
With the series wrapped up, Maro Itoje draped an arm around his wife, bit on his medal and made an ‘M’ symbol with his fingers for the cameras. An iconic image from an iconic player.
This was the night Itoje became the first Englishman to captain the Lions to a series victory since Martin Johnson in 1997. The night he delivered on the billing he was given as a prodigious sixth former coming out of Harrow School.
It was not the perfect performance, but it was a career-defining outcome. A night that ended with him leading an intoxicated crowd on a chant of, ‘Lions! Lions! Lions!’
Itoje was outplayed by Will Skelton for 40 minutes, but we are talking about an 80-minute warrior here. Itoje has an engine is like no other and, long after his gargantuan opponent made way, it was the Lions skipper who seized the initiative.
He guided his side back from a 23-5 deficit, showing the sort of cool leadership that earned him an invited into Downing Street from Keir Starmer. ‘Next job,’ was his message, as his team clawed their way back with four tries against a Wallabies team who played their hearts out.
It elevates him into the pantheon of Lions greats. Shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Jeremy Guscott, Sir Gareth Edwards and Johnson himself. This is Itoje’s third tour and next week he could lead the Lions to their first clean sweep since 1927.
Itoje is the first Englishman since Martin Johnson in 1997 to captain the Lions to a series win
The Lions sealed victory over Australia at the MCG after coming back from a 23-5 deficit
This is Itoje’s third Lions tour, and he has the chance next week to lead the team to their first clean sweep since 1927
The tourists trailed until the final minute but they kept coming, one job after another, until Hugo Keenan scored in the final play. It was the cruellest of defeats for the Australians who, at times, looked like the Wallabies of old. Those galloping golds of another generation, full of hope and adventure.
But when the game was in the balance in the final quarter, it was Itoje who stood tall. He won a turnover on the halfway line, allowing Finn Russell to land an inch-perfect for a five-metre lineout. Moments later, he limbered over the top of a Wallaby maul like a possessed octopus to win a scrum turnover. The fine margins that win Test series.
Not much has gone the Wallabies’ way on this tour and he defeat will feel like a sucker-punch. They arrived 15 minutes late to the stadium, caught in traffic as a record crowd of 90,307 flocked to the MCG. Melbourne is a city whose relationship with rugby has broken down but at times this felt like a romance rekindled.
Joe Schmidt’s side played the house down for 30 minutes. Tom Wright’s daring runs from deep were a joy to watch. There was intent in every collision. They got the ball into the giant paws of Skelton and Rob Valentini, with Australia’s returning bruise brothers ripping up the submissive narrative from the first Test.
The Lions were tamed as Lynagh kicked two early penalties, with the hosts on a mission to restore pride. James Slipper, the warhorse prop from the 2013 series, squatted his way through a tackle to score, and the floodgates opened.
The Wallabies worked through 17 phases before Jake Gordon, the man who many wanted to be dropped, sniped from the base of the ruck for a cathartic try. And Wright scored next, capitalising on Joseph Suaalii’s slice through the midfield.
Dan Sheehan’s early try kept the scoreline in check and, trailing by 18 points, it was sink or swim when Itoje pulled his team-mates in. ‘Often when you’re losing a bit from a score point of view, you can think “Oh my goodness, we’re losing the game, we need to score”,’ said Itoje.
‘I think the right approach is just to focus on the next outcome or the next passage of play. That’s the way we managed to build ourselves back in.’
It was the cruellest of defeats for Australia, who led for 79 minutes and looked like the Wallabies of old at times
But when the game was in the balance in the final quarter, it was Itoje who led the comeback
Jamison Gibson-Park got the Lions attack ticking around the ruck, rallying tries from Tom Curry and Huw Jones before half time. Both teams unloaded their bench but there was no chance Itoje was leaving the pitch.
The likes of James Ryan and Ellis Genge injected power but Lynagh nudged the hosts further ahead, after Bundee Aki was caught with his hands in the cookie jar at the ruck.
Strong carries through the midfield got the Lions into enemy territory, with James Lowe using his strength to bear Len Ikitau, before Tadhg Beirne scored down the left wing. Russell’s touchline conversion made it a two point game and the Lions had 20 minutes to find a winner.
They were met by a fierce Wallaby resistance, turned over in the red zone, but their leaders kept it together.
‘Cool, calm and collected, 100 per cent,’ was how Andy Farrell described his captain’s leadership. ‘I thought he was outstanding in his captaincy. As the game started to unfold in front of us, he was calm. He understood what was needed and how we communicated with the referee.
‘The flow of the game, he was absolutely spot on. If you listen back to the messaging that was on the referee’s mic in time, you’ll realise just what a class act he was.’
When Keenan scored in the corner with 30 seconds left to play, all hell broke loose as the Wallabies got into the referee’s ear to review Jac Morgan’s clearout on Carlo Tizanno. Itoje got his point across and the final whistle was blown.
Another feather in his cap. The series belongs to the Lions with a game to spare but Itoje is not done yet. His parting message? ‘We want to go again next week.’
