Three moments that secured Maro Itoje's Lions immortality

Telegraph

6 days ago

British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje delivered a performance for the ages as the tourists secured a famous series win.
Telegraph Sport breaks down three crucial moments on a defining day for Itoje.
63 minutes – Conan tackle and Itoje turnover
Langi Gleeson carries past Bundee Aki only to be felled by a desperate tackle from Jack Conan, allowing Itoje to swoop and secure a turnover
Until the final quarter, Itoje had not been enjoying his finest hour as a player. He had conceded two penalties in a first half that was dominated by the physical presence of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, who seemed to especially enjoy ruffling the plumage of his one-time Saracens team-mate.
It was understandable that Itoje's influence would start to wane. This was his 33rd game, all starts, of a gruelling season that will run to 12 successive months if he starts next week. For the second successive season, English rugby's most prized asset has sailed past the governing body's own game-time limits, now downgraded out of pitiful shame to guidelines.
While Itoje joked at the start of the tour about having 'no wrinkles' such a workload is bound to have an effect. Last summer he clearly ran out of steam at the end of England's pair of Tests against New Zealand. Similarly, Itoje looked completely gassed in the final 10 minutes of the first Test victory against Australia.
That result, however, was never truly in the balance whereas at the MCG the Lions had been trailing since the fourth minute – at one stage by 18 points – which was going to require one last final push from Itoje. And in those critical final 20 minutes, Itoje duly played lights-out rugby. The Lions won two turnovers in the final quarter, both by Itoje – first on the isolated Gleeson and then at a maul with eight minutes to go.
That proved a huge momentum shift, coming straight after Will Stuart had conceded a penalty inside the Australian 22 for taking an extra roll allowing the Wallabies to kick to touch. Australia 's maul was already beginning to fragment allowing Itoje to come through the middle to sack the ball-carrier. It prompted a huge roar of celebration from Andy Farrell in the coaching box. That Itoje was awarded the man-of-the-match honours afterwards owed entirely to his efforts in this final quarter when his fuel light was blinking furiously.
78 mins – Itoje calls line-out to himself
The Lions are still trailing 26-24 and have a line-out just inside their half. Itoje calls the line-out to himself and claims the ball just in front of Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams
In a few years' time, this will seem like the inevitable crowning of Itoje as this generation's 'Lions king' and only the second successful English Lions captain in the postwar era after Martin Johnson.
Farrell was gushing with praise in the post-match press conference. 'Cool, calm and collected, 100 per cent,' Farrell said. 'I thought he was outstanding in his captaincy today. He was across the game. As the game started to unfold in front of us, he was calm.'
Yet there was nothing pre-ordained about Itoje's coronation. In all likelihood, Caelan Doris would have been the Lions captain but for the Ireland No 8's shoulder injury.
As early as January this year, Itoje had never captained an international team until England head coach Steve Borthwick decided to unceremoniously depose Jamie George. Eddie Jones famously opined that his star player was too introspective to be a captain.
There are many forms of leadership. By his own admission, Itoje 'leads by actions'. As footage in the changing room before the first Test shows, Itoje was happy to delegate the emotional tone-setting to Ellis Genge, the England prop. Churchillian speeches are not Itoje's style. He does not swear. He does not tub thump. How Itoje leads is by taking responsibility on his own shoulders.
With the series on the line in the final 10 minutes, Itoje calls the final two Lions line-outs to himself. Australia knew exactly where the ball was going and challenged him both times. Ronan Kelleher's throws were on the money on each occasion but Itoje still needed to claim each catch under ferocious pressure.
One misjudgment and it is highly probable Australia are 1-1 in the series. This can happen to the very best. In the final minutes of the third Test of the 2001 series, Johnson called a line-out to himself only to have Justin Harrison pinch it from his grasp. Itoje ensured there would be no Wallaby robbery II.
80 mins – Itoje cuts Wilson's protests short
Hugo Keenan crosses for the winning try but Australia captain Harry Wilson immediately appeals to referee Andrea Piardi for an illegal clear out by Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano in the previous phase. Itoje immediately interrupts Wilson's protests and after both captains are ushered away the officials agree that no infringement has taken place
This was not quite on a par with Sam Warburton's Jedi mind-trick on Romain Poite in the 2017 series against the All Blacks, when the French referee reversed his penalty decision in virtually the last play of the third Test, but Farrell seemed to have no doubt that Itoje's influence at least had an influence in ensuring Piardi stuck with his on-field decision.
'He understood what was needed and how we communicated with the referee,' Farrell said. 'The flow of the game, he was absolutely spot on. If you listen back to the messaging that was on the referee's mic in time, you'll realise just what a class act he was.'
Earlier in the tour, Itoje was asked what his approach was to dealing with referees, which he says he tailors to each individual referee. 'It's slightly different depending on the refs,' Itoje said. 'You have to make an assessment. Some refs are more amenable to communication than others and you have to take a read. You have to choose your moments.'
With Piardi that meant approaching the Italian at every possible opportunity. Skelton sparked an early fracas after a cheap shot on Tadhg Furlong which sparked a furious response from Itoje. This was quickly re-enacted after Dan Sheehan's opening try to which Piardi tried to calm both captains down.
Itoje, though, slyly tried to shift the blame. 'Yes sir, yes sir. But sir, he started it,' to which Wilson incredulously replied: 'Don't be a schoolkid.'
On 65 minutes, Itoje was again in Piardi's grill after Tizzano had won a turnover inches from the Australia's try-line. Although his protests fell on deaf ears, Ronan O'Gara on the Sky commentary voiced his approval for Itoje 'asking all the right questions'.
It is difficult to listen to an uninterrupted feed of the final, fateful exchange with Piardi, although Itoje definitely succeeds in cutting short Wilson's protests.
When asked about what he said to Piardi afterwards, Itoje said: 'I don't really know to be honest. It was fine. Naturally, their captain was trying to get his point across and, in my view, argue for something that didn't happen. I guess I was just arguing for something that did happen.'
Whatever influence his intervention did or did not have, the officials ruled in the visitors' favour, confirming the series win and putting Itoje on that narrow pedestal of successful Lions' captains.
Player of the Match and Lions captain Maro Itoje gives his immediate reaction to an epic comeback win at the MCG! 😍🗣️ pic.twitter.com/kfTuQaFabx
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) July 26, 2025