Is Maro Itoje the right man to lead England reboot?

The new captain must reverse the country's dreadful run of form in the Six Nations

- SIMON COLLINGS

Given he is now England captain, it is funny to think that Maro Itoje described himself as a "headless chicken" when first playing rugby. Itoje was, in fairness, just 11 at the time and before his school headmaster had told him to give rugby a try, his sporting interests lay elsewhere in athletics, basketball and football.

It quickly became apparent, though, that Itoje could be a phenomenal rugby player and his remarkable rise peaked this month when he was named England captain ahead of the Six Nations.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has made a bold call in deciding Itoje should replace Jamie George, but after two wins in their past eight games, England need a reboot and the belief is that Itoje is the right man to lead them into a new era. "There's a load of promise," he says. "There's a whole load of potential. My role is to help us realise that. We often speak about great captains and what they do. The most important thing is that you play well. That's the best form of leadership. People listen to your words, but they follow your actions."

Impact man

It was in a coffee shop this month that Borthwick broke the news to Itoje that he wanted him to be England captain. Itoje's response came with a smile that Borthwick says could have "lit up the whole of England". The announcement caught many off guard, though, given the way George had captained England last year. The hooker found out he had been made captain on the same day his late mother was diagnosed with cancer and he led the team with great distinction, even during a poor run of form in the autumn.

"They are very different personalities, Maro and Jamie," says Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall, who coaches the pair at club level. "So if there is any difference in their captaincy it is due to differences in their personalities, because they are both true to themselves and very authentic.