Maro Itoje, the commanding captain of the British and Irish Lions, has put the Wallabies on high alert with a stark proclamation that his team has yet to peak, despite pulling off a dramatic series win in Melbourne. The Lions, who have now clinched victories in the first two Tests, still see room for elevation in their game play as they head into the third Test in Sydney.
The recent clash at the MCG saw the Lions stage a remarkable comeback from 23-5 down, ultimately securing a 29-26 win thanks to Hugo Keenan's decisive try. This victory marked a significant series win, but Itoje is adamant that the best is yet to come.
"The exciting thing – obviously we’re delighted and we’re going to celebrate this win – is that you know and I know we’ve got so much more in us. Next week we have an opportunity to actually bring it all together,"
Itoje expressed post-game.Itoje also shared a piece of familial advice that seemed to resonate deeply with the team's mindset.
"My uncle last week sent me a message saying: ‘Look, you guys aren’t the Harlem Globetrotters, you guys need to make sure you win’. Thank you uncle, that was good advice and luckily we did it,"
he revealed, underscoring the pragmatic approach taken to secure the win.The Lions showed significant improvement in their ball handling and execution compared to their first Test in Brisbane. According to Itoje, the directive from coach Andy Farrell was clear and impactful. "Andy, big Faz, was telling us, ‘play big, play big all the time, believe in ourselves’. I give a load of credit to the bench, all the guys who came on made a massive difference,” he noted, highlighting the pivotal contributions from substitutes.
The synergy between Itoje and Farrell has been notable, with Farrell’s coaching prowess shining through. Itoje praised his coach, saying, “He’s obviously a very talented coach, he’s done loads of good everywhere he’s gone. It’s just been great. Him and all the coaching staff have all been great.” Yet, the humble captain was quick to divert the spotlight away from himself, emphasizing the collective effort: “It’s not about me, it’s about all those guys there and everyone in the stand, all the 90,000 Lions fans who came here and were amazing. I’m just happy for the whole squad, whole four nations – you can celebrate this one.”
As the Lions prepare for the third Test, the stage is set for Itoje and his team to potentially deliver a historic clean sweep in Sydney, provided they can manifest the untapped potential their captain so confidently speaks of.