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Maro Itoje: 'Do I think I have got the best prep in the world?'

(Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

Maro Itoje has insisted his preparation to play could still be better even though his recent progress was this week hailed by England boss Eddie Jones. The 27-year-old Londoner is set to win his 56th Test cap for his country when Jones’ side take on France in this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations final round denouement. 

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The second row has had his critics on occasion, but he has shown his immense value to England in recent weeks with his treasured nuisance in upsetting and getting at rival Welsh and Irish players. Now it is the turn of the French to be annoyed by a talent whose world-class ability continues to grow and improve.  

It was Thursday evening, shortly after including Itoje in an England XV showing five changes from the round four loss to Ireland, that Jones dwelt on the recent contribution of the forward. “You look at the growth of him as a player – I can’t speak more highly of what he has done, not only as a player but also his leadership qualities within the team. 

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      It’s crunch time for Fabien Galthie’s men as they prepare to face England with a title and Grand Slam on the line in Paris and we analyse all the tactical, personnel and mental battles. Former England international and Toulon and Lyon full back Delon Armitage joins us to give us his insight, as well as to share a few stories on the likes of Bernard Laporte and Mourad Boudjellal from his Champions Cup winning days, and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
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      “He has become a really significant guy in our team, not that he wasn’t before, but the way he talks, the way he commands respect from the other players he continues to grow and continues to impress.”

      Less than 24 hours later, Itoje was on media duties post the England captain’s run at Stade de France and he was asked about his levels of preparation and how close they are to perfection now that he is such a seasoned Test match operator.  

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      “It is a massive part of being a professional rugby player, it’s a massive part of continuing to try and evolve and grow and get better in different ways to push the standard a little bit. In terms of perfecting it, you are always looking at ways, minor things that you can do differently. 

      “You hear little bits of what different people do. You try a bit, a bit of trial and error. So do I think I have got the best in the world? Not yet, but I still think my prep can be better and I hope to continue to learn along the way for it to be better.”

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      NH 6 minutes ago
      Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

      Nice one john - hit all the main pts. Physicality, kicking game and the kick chase/receipt in particular, and lineout which has not been highlighted enough imo, it was a huge momentum killer in the 1st half for the wallabies. Obviously skelton and valetini are irreplaceable as individuals, but I don’t agree that schmidt couldn’t have picked a more physcial pack and that he got his selections wrong. As you say slipper put in a great shift and for mine Allan was probably the best player in gold, but Bell should’ve started to help fill the valetini-sized ball carrying hole. Lukhan isn’t the specimen skelton is, but he is a hell of alot closer to it than jeremy williams who toiled, but was outclassed wheres lukhan has had 3 good shifts against the lions now. Its telling that pete samu has seemingly been dropped into the squad overnight, who would’ve been a step up in weight class and experience to Nick CDC also. Re Mcreight: I thought he was also in the wallabies top 5 performers to be honest, yes he dropped some ball, but he was critical defensively at the breakdown and lions probably would’ve had another try if he was off the field. I think the call went out at halftime to shut him down, because anytime he went near a ruck the lions flooded about 4 blokes into it to nullify him at the expense of quick ball, knowing they can go again at the next ruck such was his presence.

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