Itoje's 'emotional turmoil' to England milestone
SPOTLIGHT: England captain Maro Itoje will win his 100th England cap when he runs out against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, but it has not been a smooth sailing path for the towering lock forward.
Already a Test centurion with 99 caps for England and 10 for the British and Irish Lions, Itoje has been a prime example of what it is to be a modern-day international lock.
Still, it is the lessons in his hardships and not necessarily the good times that got him to this significant milestone.
Itoje recently lost his mother and missed the opening round clash against Wales, where England won 48-7 and returned in last week’s loss to Scotland at Murrayfield, where he made an appearance off the bench.
The Red Rose skipper said he might have missed the milestone without learning to manage the “emotional turmoil” of his early rugby career.
Now a decade on from his Test debut, the 31-year-old Saracens lock will become just the ninth man to make 100 appearances for England when he leads the team out for their third-round Championship encounter with Ireland at Twickenham.
“At the start of my career, I probably didn’t have a full understanding of how to regulate the emotions leading up to a Test match,” said Itoje on the eve of the game.
“I remember thinking ‘I’m not sure if I can do this every week’ because I was putting myself through emotional turmoil.
“The game’s a huge occasion, but obviously building so much emotional energy towards it, I probably would have had a heart attack or stroke if I didn’t change my prep.”
Itoje, who also led the British and Irish Lions on their victorious tour of Australia last year, added: “To reach 100 [England] caps feels amazing.
“I’m full of pride, full of happiness, joy and excitement. It’s obviously a great milestone to reach and hit.”
But there is a touch of sadness too following the death last month of Itoje’s mother, Florence, who loyally supported her son both home and abroad.
“In many ways it’s a great milestone, but in many ways it will be a little bit sad that my mother is not there to witness this,” said Itoje.
With reporting by AFP
