Itoje full of hope for new PGP deal

MARO Itoje has given a snapshot of how the new PGP agreement between clubs and the RFU should help him sail beyond the 100-cap mark.

- ADAM HATHAWAY

The lock, who won his 85th England cap yesterday against New Zealand, is one of 17 players who were handed enhanced EPS contracts recently, giving Steve Borthwick more control over his conditioning.

But all of the squad had pre-season sit-downs with the England head coach and his staff plus their entire club coachsomething ing groups that did not happen under previous regimes.

Borthwick, below, has spent nearly two years trying to rebuild bridges between club and country which got blown up under Eddie Jones.

And Itoje, who turned.

30 last Monday, says the new spirt of openness between the two sides will enable players to peak for key games and that is good news for Borthwick and Premiership outfits.

"Early in the season I had a meeting with all my club coaches and all of my international coaches, in one room, discussing my Individual Development Plan, which has never been done before," he said. "That collaboration and this synching of ideas, everyone working to the same goal, is going to be very beneficial for both parties.