England’s head coach, Eddie Jones, believes Maro Itoje is experiencing “second season” syndrome and is still feeling the after-effects of the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand last year. He predicts, however, the Saracens forward will emerge stronger from his current dip and prove a formidable presence at the Rugby World Cup next year.
The 23-year-old Itoje, along with several of his team-mates, has yet to recapture the world-class form that propelled him into the Lions Test side and helped to restrict the All Blacks to a drawn series. His season has also been disrupted by a broken jaw and a hip problem and, along with the rest of England’s pack, he has endured a mixed Six Nations so far.
Improvement will be needed against France in Paris this weekend but Jones believes Itoje is more than good enough to bounce back.
“It is difficult when you come out of the blocks in the first season because you not only carry more expectation, you carry more attention from other players,” Jones said, employing a cricket analogy to explain why his lock forward is finding life tougher.
Source : theguardian
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