In the 43rd minute of England’s defeat by Italy, the pressure on Maro Itoje’s shoulders was clear for the world to see.
His pack won a scrum penalty and Jamie George immediately held up three fingers to indicate a kick at goal. Ellis Genge shaped for a quick tap, while Fin Smith was unsure if he should be kicking for a lineout. The messaging was scrambled.
‘Stop arguing with me,’ shouted Itoje, the skipper. ‘Take the three.’
Disagreements happen on the rugby pitch yet Itoje’s tone seemed out of character. He is one of the game’s most calm and measured personalities yet his clear thinking looked scrambled in the second half.
His form has dipped and difficult questions must be asked by Steve Borthwick. Itoje has suffered injuries and a family bereavement and there is a growing consensus that he needs significant rest before next year’s World Cup.
Itoje has been England’s standard-setter since his debut in 2016, playing a staggering 8,451 minutes for his country. New Zealand playmaker Beauden Barrett is second in the list worldwide in that time with 7,211, yet Itoje plays in a more attritional position and has played far more club rugby.
Itoje has been England’s standard-setter since his debut in 2016, playing a staggering 8,451 minutes for his country. Now, he needs a sabbatical
Dropping Itoje for the Test in France would not send any punishing messages to the squad. Borthwick has already played his selection trump card
Resting him for this weekend’s game against France would make little difference. Borthwick is under too much pressure to rest him for the Nations Championship in the summer but something has to give.
The RFU have a £264million Professional Game Partnership which buys Borthwick control over player medical issues when they are with their clubs. He has the final say over surgeries and rehabilitation and he must act now over Itoje.
There is a duty of care to manage his workload but England can’t afford to rest him for the summer Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina. Instead, Borthwick should make a case to Itoje’s Saracens club boss Mark McCall to give him the rest of the club season off. A mini-sabbatical so he can rest and recover before a huge World Cup season.
The 31-year-old could become a landmark case in English rugby’s multi-million pound deal.
Speaking before Itoje’s 100th Test against Ireland earlier in this Six Nations campaign, Itoje’s former Saracens team-mate Alex Goode said: ‘Maro’s discipline and his focus to perform at such a consistent level for so long is something I’ve never seen before.
‘He has probably had two bad games in 100 caps and that’s unbelievable. He’s in one of the most physical positions in the game. People have overused him, not given him a rest, not looked after him. But he just keeps coming back and performing. It’s unbelievable.
‘Saracens have tried to look after him but we need him. England haven’t had a huge amount of second rows so there’s been a huge demand on Maro to lead every minute of every week.
‘You get some 30-year-olds who have probably played 200 games in their career. Jesse Kriel has played 100 club games and 100 games for South Africa. Maro has probably played 300 club games and 100 games for England. You have to look after guys like that.
‘I don’t think you can expect him to play every minute of every game now. If you’re playing someone like Fiji then use that as a chance to rest him. He never had the chance to do a sabbatical like some players.’
Itoje is smashed back in the tackle by Juan Ignacio Brex of Italy during England’s Six Nations defeat in Rome
‘You dig your way out by doubling down and believing in the team and that’s what we need to do,’ said Itoje of England’s current plight
Injuries to Ollie Chessum and George Martin have meant Itoje has had to bear the brunt of England’s lock work. He has been irreplaceable but a time-out would mean England could see the best of Itoje at next year’s World Cup.
Eddie Jones, among others, has questioned the form of the lock, who conceded a sloppy yellow card in Rome and failed to contest Italy’s lineout in the final play of the match.
‘Obviously (the yellow) didn’t work out the way I intended,’ said Itoje. ‘I was trying to scoop the ball back in my direction, and it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. It’s obviously hindsight. It was probably better left. I just have to wear that one.
‘You dig your way out by training hard and sticking together. Splintering off and going off to corners doesn’t help. You dig your way out by doubling down and believing in the team and that’s what we need to do.’
Dropping Itoje for the Test in France would not send any punishing messages to the squad. Borthwick made 12 changes for the Italy match. He has already played his selection trump card and did not see a reaction. In many ways, the combinations for this weekend’s game in Paris feel immaterial if the tactics and gameplan do not evolve.
There is no quick fix to England’s problems. But Itoje must be part of the solution and English rugby should act now to ensure they see the best of him in the years to come.