The game that made Maro Itoje a superstar in rugby

Jim Hamilton gives an analysis of the incredible performance of Maro Itoje in the Rugby World Cup semi final against New Zealand in 2019.
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[@Mojo-IRE]

Itoje was world famous in rugby long before this.

[@phila6811]

this video makes no sense, he had long proven himself as a superstar

[@osr4152]

Yes he was considered a new talent in 2016, and played really well in the 3-0 tour of Australia that year. And was recognised as a key player for the Lions in 2017 vs NZ forging a famous partnership with AWJones.

[@hitchikerspie]

Not the Lions series in 2017 when the whole crowd was signing “Ohhh Maro Itoje” Shame that it was such a small profile event and nobody could’ve heard of that though…

[@joek360]

Thank you for pointing this out, he was world class in that Lions series and already a global name by 2019. Would it be unfair to also say that in this game vs NZ he probably wasn’t even the best English player? I remember Underhill being incredible that day and Curry too. He’s also probably dipped in international form since 2019 too!

[@JosephFallon]

Also has the catchiest chant going. I'm Irish but can't help breaking in to "Ohhh / Mar-o I-toje"

[@DM-rp9ik]

And he's been unseen ever since

[@cmac_415]

Loved watching the All Blacks choke this one. They were so confident about their three-peat 😂😂😂

[@stroketheboat]

He isn't as effective as he was, but that's because he set such an exceptionally high bar - he still does such an incredible amount of work off the ball that goes unseen to most. He still has years to develop and will no doubt captain England in the near future, when Borthwick finally gets rid of Faz.

[@nickrad6966]

Better player when partnered with George Kruis. Not a coincidence that his play declined when Kruis went to Japan.

[@Tom-tp1jv]

He is lazy and more of an impact strategy player as oppose to a endurance based defensive 7 in which is the meta. Dudes like itoje come on random and finish the game outta nowhere. But he is lazy and doesn't play enough defense or push his working rates to the limit

[@arnoldganga2778]

He Looks Like David Njoku NFL Superstar and they are both Nigerians

[@dulls8475]

He is not what he was but like all English players they get ground into the mud by the club system and being over used. He is slowly on the improve over this 6N.

[@Tom-tp1jv]

I dont think he is played properly, the dude is a wildcard with magic tricks but because of this doesn't fufil the role of a defensive 7, which is needed to set the tempo of the game. Let itoje be an impact player

[@marilyncatterall402]

He was a superstar long before that ....... And for those naysayers, he's now back to his best, since his long term illness has been diagnosed.

[@grand_robespierre]

When the international federation will discover how doping he was...

[@vuyaniman9440]

That was the last time… sadly.

[@ianbermingham9047]

Hes now ah show pony ,was ah great player

[@chaz.92]

Just had a stroke trying to read that

[@colinhirst6137]

The guy is simply not world class and needs to unburden his soul to relight the rugby fire within and truly shine. At the moment he is just another international. 🤟

[@Lexicondiablo]

As soon as Borthwick realises that Smith must replace Farrell and they both can't be on the pitch at the same time, Itoje needs to be the next England captain.

[@tg689]

Pls do a video about the various games that exposed him as an average and overrated player

[@chrisbreen3188]

Isn’t a superstar these days, is he?

[@joek360]

He’s continued to be very good for Saracens but the star quality does seem to have dwindled at international level, would love to know why and if it will change.

[@patrickchilds2987]

And yet he i now the highest paid rugby player in the game . So yeah some people rate him

[@chrisbreen3188]

@@patrickchilds2987 fuck up

[@nickrad6966]

@@joek360 I think he was a better player when paired with Kruis who’s heavy and does a lot of the typical lock work at the ruck that then frees up Itoje. Look at the best lock partnerships, Botha and Matfield, Retallick and Whitelock for example. Ones the enforcer, the other is the athlete. Itoje and Kruis were an awesome combination for Saracens, England and even the Lions in 2017.

[@joek360]

@@nickrad6966 That is a great point, hadn’t thought about those. They were such a great pair and Kruis was incredibly efficient at that too. Wonder if something similar is happening at Saracens again now, with Tizard taking up that role as the big unit in there.

[@garthwynton9907]

Are you sure this guy isn't by any chance a defendant of South Africa 😂😂😂

[@jonesyjones7626]

Yes, he was great in that game. However, he has been owned by the South African locks every time (and I’m not a Saffer) and has hardly dominated the French or Irish locks since. His peak was over three years ago. He needs to perform again against the best on a consistent basis to be considered a real star.

[@joba4848]

I agree. Hasn’t been world class for at least two years. Could make a good case for dropping him from the starting line-up.

[@THEMRblackboy7thst]

tbf the SA locks are huge and bigger than Itoje.

[@morris9337]

Yeah he’s a fantastic player but I feel his opposition have just been getting better and better, staying on form etc. Eben seems to absolutely relish going up against him as well

[@NickSterson]

I think he'd make an amazing blindside, ZAF did this when they moved Pieter Steph Du Toit here from lock. Du Toit was a good lock but is an outstanding blind-side. I know Maro has been used here in the past but I mean specializing and giving him time to make it his own.

[@Fudgeis1337]

@@joba4848 For who out of interest?

[@johnmcmccormack9203]

Didn't look very impressive in the final

[@joba4848]

His level has dropped off massively.

[@kb8796]

And then came South Africa and he did nothing at all against SA locks

[@THEMRblackboy7thst]

would could he or anyone have done? Those SA players are brutal.

[@brettg4784]

Over-rated , over hyped one trick pony

[@nickrad6966]

What's the one trick?

[@tc4089]

how many world cups he got?

[@Chris-jt4ux]

yawn.

[@financialliberty2381]

Great game by Itoje but ABs were so poor in that game. Current Ireland or France of last year would have beaten them even more convincingly than England did.

[@chaz.92]

What a worthless comment

[@financialliberty2381]

@@chaz.92 truth hurts it seems. English fan I guess?

[@seamus9750]

Over rated

[@biosensore]

LOL Eben and RG Snyman would flatten him.

[@patrickchilds2987]

So what ? two locks would flatten any single . Itoje and lawes would flatten Eben ? What’s your point?

[@Tom-tp1jv]

Hes fckin lazy now lol

[@makacowell]

….and then he and others acted like entitled children when they got owned by South Africa

[@Canvashed]

When was that?

[@dulls8475]

@@Canvashed You wont get an answer...

[@daviddempster8717]

​@@Canvashed That post final medel ceremony. Absolutely shameful.

[@Canvashed]

@@daviddempster8717 you know what if you want to make a big deal of players taking off their medals so be it. At least at a international level of sport they won't be known for doping, match fixing, racism, and harassing a refs family with abuse online. Saffers are the last people who should throw stones in glass houses. I thankyou. Oh ps limbless sprinters murdering their women

[@NickSterson]

That's a cultural issue with the team at large, and has been well documented. Borthwick will change this.

[@ianabrahamson785]

But when he played against the Springboks, he wasnt that great, infact a bad loser, wouldnt put his runner up medal on. And down hill from there on.

[@Canvashed]

It wasn't a case of bad sportsmanship, just took it off. NZ done the same thing in 95 and walked off the pitch!! But nothing said...just anti England BS

[@diogeneslantern18]

None of those wankers put their medals on. There are certain players in the English team that are an absolute canver towards them ever reaching their full potential. Owen Farrell, for one.

[@Canvashed]

@@diogeneslantern18 neither did you fuckers in 95. So pipe down iwi

[@diogeneslantern18]

@@Canvashed nope, we lifted the Webb-Ellis in 95.

[@Canvashed]

@@diogeneslantern18 ohhhh your a saffer??? Your on a different level when it comes to your sportsmen embrassing your nation from drug cheats, to match fixing, to racism, and sportsmen murdering they're girlfriends. No wonder you guys deflect. No wonder SA banned cigarettes and Alcohol during covid because your a fragile society

[@Chris-jc3gl]

Overhyped, overrated, average player.

[@patkeane4300]

Just another overrated player for England just like genge and Farrell

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

What are you on. He has been one of best players in world for years. Your clueless .

[@patkeane4300]

@@michaelmoynihan9591 have you watched ireland play lately.back into your shell there lad..COYBIG💪💪😂😂😂

[@Canvashed]

@@patkeane4300 "Englishmen out of Ireland" was the cry not long ago about Farrell senior until he started winning. Try make past a RWC QF this year

[@michaelmoynihan9591]

@@patkeane4300 moronic reply.bye bye.

[@patkeane4300]

@@Canvashed well jaysus u English sacked Farrell senior in 2015 bcoz you couldn't make it to the quarters in your OWN world cup.stfu pom