Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The Steve Borthwick verdict on Maro Itoje's Lions captaincy bid

By Liam Heagney at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Maro Itoje celebrates England's win over Wales (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England boss Steve Borthwick has given his verdict on Maro Itoje’s bid to captain the British and Irish Lions on their tour to Australia. Borthwick’s side rounded off their latest Guinness Six Nations campaign with a record away hammering of Wales, scoring 10 tries to win 68-14 in Cardiff.

ADVERTISEMENT

Victory left the English finishing with a four-wins-from-five campaign for the first time since they last lifted the Six Nations title in 2020. They did so with Itoje as their new skipper after Borthwick tasked him at the start of 2025 with taking over the captaincy from Jamie George.

While England were beaten in the opening round by Ireland, they went on to enjoy success against France, Scotland, Italy and Wales and Borthwick had no hesitation on Saturday night outlining his full confidence in lock Itoje captaining the Lions if chosen by Andy Farrell ahead of Ireland’s Caelan Doris.

Video Spacer

Will Felix Jones be the next Bok Head Coach? | RPTV

Video Spacer

Will Felix Jones be the next Bok Head Coach? | RPTV

The Boks Office boy speculate as to whether Felix Jones’ return could set him up for a long term future with the Springboks. Watch the full show now on RugbyPass TV.

“Maro has been absolutely outstanding,” said Borthwick at Principality Stadium. “He leads by example every day and he has stepped up his game. That is an important thing to note. He has improved in many areas this campaign.

“That really does set an example and he is an experienced player at Test and Lions level. I have full confidence in Maro’s ability to lead the Lions should Andy ask him.”

Player Carries

1
Ben Earl
14
2
Blair Murray
11
3
Ben Thomas
11

England had 11 players – the largest representation of the four nations – chosen in the Lions squad originally named in 2021 by Warren Gatland to tour South Africa.

Borthwick is now expecting the English to feature heavily again in a Lions squad on the back of a Six Nations effort that left them in first place before France kicked off in their tournament-ending, Saturday night fixture with Scotland.

ADVERTISEMENT

England ultimately finished second, as the French delivered a 35-16 win in Paris to clinch their first title since 2022.

“The next thing for these players is hopefully lots of them will get picked for the Lions,” said Borthwick. “The players have created some good headaches for Andy, the kind of headaches as a coach you want to have. Lots of players putting their hand up and showing a case they should be on that plane for the Lions.

“We as a coaching team talked about part of our role, it was Kevin Sinfield who proposed it. He said part of our role is to get as many of these players on that plane as possible. Our job is to help them do that, so hopefully there will be a lot of England players heading down under in a couple of months on that Lions plane.

“Hopefully there will be lots of players from this squad going on the Lions which will be brilliant for them. It’s just such a phenomenal experience, the Lions tour is a brilliant experience to have and I am sure if they do go they will come back better England players for having that experience.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Two early tries had England 14-0 up against Wales after just 10 minutes and a further three-try blitz sent them in at the break 33-7 ahead. Five more tries followed in the second half, including two for the debut-making Henry Pollock, to see records in the fixture tumble.

“We spoke about this [Cardiff] being a special place to come and play and we then spoke about how we wanted to approach the game. I wanted the players to play big, to play fast, aggressive with ball and that is exactly what they did which shows a sign of this young team that just embraces challenges and is growing and developing fast.

“The team has been progressing for a period of time now. If you look through you can see the growth in the team and whilst for a period getting the actual wins we were just falling a little short, the team has stuck to the process.

“The team has taken enjoyment in the process of getting better. I know I enjoy the process of getting better. I am really pleased for the players – and the supporters today, who were phenomenal – seeing the fruits of their labour on the pitch.”

Related

Win British & Irish Lions Merchandise! We have Replica Jerseys, Backpacks, Caps, Bobble Hats and Scarves up for grabs. Enter now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 37 | Six Nations Round 4 Review

Cape Town | Leg 2 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series 2025 | Full Day Replay

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 36 | Six Nations Round 3 Review

Why did Scotland's Finn Russell take the crucial kick from the wrong place? | Whistle Watch

England A vs Ireland A | Full Match Replay

Kubota Spears vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | JRLO 2024/2025 | Full Match Replay

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

l
loriehardy52 2 hours ago
Ireland U20 vs Italy U20 | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

It was supposed to be a dream trip, a long-awaited journey from the USA to China to visit family and explore new places. I had spent months planning every detail, from the itinerary to the accommodations. But what started as excitement quickly turned into a nightmare when I fell victim to a fake flight ticket scam, losing $580,000 in the process. The betrayal I felt was indescribable. I had trusted the website, which looked legitimate, and even received what appeared to be a confirmation email. It wasn’t until I arrived at the airport that I realized I had been scammed. The ticket was fake, and my money was gone.I felt a mix of anger, embarrassment, and helplessness. How could I have been so careless? I had worked so hard to save for this trip, and now it was all gone. I reported the incident to the authorities, but I was told that recovering the funds would be nearly impossible. That’s when I stumbled upon Hack Buster Recovery. At first, I was skeptical after all, I had already been scammed once. But I was desperate, and their reviews seemed genuine. I decided to take a chance and reached out to them. From the very first interaction, the team at Hack Buster Recovery was professional and empathetic. They listened to my story, asked for all the necessary details, and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. Their confidence gave me hope. Over the next few days, they kept me updated on their progress, explaining each step of the recovery process in a way that was easy to understand. I was amazed by their expertise and dedication.To my absolute astonishment, within a week, Hack Buster Recovery successfully recovered my $580,000. I couldn’t believe it. The relief and gratitude I felt were overwhelming. They not only got my money back but also restored my faith in humanity. Their team went above and beyond to ensure I was taken care of, and I will forever be grateful for their incredible work.This taught me a valuable lesson about being cautious online, but it also showed me that there are still good people out there willing to help. Hack Buster Recovery is a true lifesaver, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t lose hope and reach out to them. They are nothing short of incredible. Use the information below to reach them for more details.

EMAIL: hackbusterrecovery@usa.com

WHATSAPP: +12092944699

WEBSITE: hackbusters.online

0 Go to comments
l
loriehardy52 2 hours ago
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Match Stats | RugbyPass

It was supposed to be a dream trip, a long-awaited journey from the USA to China to visit family and explore new places. I had spent months planning every detail, from the itinerary to the accommodations. But what started as excitement quickly turned into a nightmare when I fell victim to a fake flight ticket scam, losing $580,000 in the process. The betrayal I felt was indescribable. I had trusted the website, which looked legitimate, and even received what appeared to be a confirmation email. It wasn’t until I arrived at the airport that I realized I had been scammed. The ticket was fake, and my money was gone.I felt a mix of anger, embarrassment, and helplessness. How could I have been so careless? I had worked so hard to save for this trip, and now it was all gone. I reported the incident to the authorities, but I was told that recovering the funds would be nearly impossible. That’s when I stumbled upon Hack Buster Recovery. At first, I was skeptical after all, I had already been scammed once. But I was desperate, and their reviews seemed genuine. I decided to take a chance and reached out to them. From the very first interaction, the team at Hack Buster Recovery was professional and empathetic. They listened to my story, asked for all the necessary details, and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. Their confidence gave me hope. Over the next few days, they kept me updated on their progress, explaining each step of the recovery process in a way that was easy to understand. I was amazed by their expertise and dedication.To my absolute astonishment, within a week, Hack Buster Recovery successfully recovered my $580,000. I couldn’t believe it. The relief and gratitude I felt were overwhelming. They not only got my money back but also restored my faith in humanity. Their team went above and beyond to ensure I was taken care of, and I will forever be grateful for their incredible work.This taught me a valuable lesson about being cautious online, but it also showed me that there are still good people out there willing to help. Hack Buster Recovery is a true lifesaver, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t lose hope and reach out to them. They are nothing short of incredible. Use the information below to reach them for more details.

EMAIL: hackbusterrecovery@usa.com

WHATSAPP: +12092944699

WEBSITE: hackbusters.online

0 Go to comments
l
loriehardy52 2 hours ago
France vs Scotland | Match Stats | RugbyPass

It was supposed to be a dream trip, a long-awaited journey from the USA to China to visit family and explore new places. I had spent months planning every detail, from the itinerary to the accommodations. But what started as excitement quickly turned into a nightmare when I fell victim to a fake flight ticket scam, losing $580,000 in the process. The betrayal I felt was indescribable. I had trusted the website, which looked legitimate, and even received what appeared to be a confirmation email. It wasn’t until I arrived at the airport that I realized I had been scammed. The ticket was fake, and my money was gone.I felt a mix of anger, embarrassment, and helplessness. How could I have been so careless? I had worked so hard to save for this trip, and now it was all gone. I reported the incident to the authorities, but I was told that recovering the funds would be nearly impossible. That’s when I stumbled upon Hack Buster Recovery. At first, I was skeptical after all, I had already been scammed once. But I was desperate, and their reviews seemed genuine. I decided to take a chance and reached out to them. From the very first interaction, the team at Hack Buster Recovery was professional and empathetic. They listened to my story, asked for all the necessary details, and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. Their confidence gave me hope. Over the next few days, they kept me updated on their progress, explaining each step of the recovery process in a way that was easy to understand. I was amazed by their expertise and dedication.To my absolute astonishment, within a week, Hack Buster Recovery successfully recovered my $580,000. I couldn’t believe it. The relief and gratitude I felt were overwhelming. They not only got my money back but also restored my faith in humanity. Their team went above and beyond to ensure I was taken care of, and I will forever be grateful for their incredible work.This taught me a valuable lesson about being cautious online, but it also showed me that there are still good people out there willing to help. Hack Buster Recovery is a true lifesaver, and I can’t recommend them enough. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t lose hope and reach out to them. They are nothing short of incredible. Use the information below to reach them for more details.

EMAIL: hackbusterrecovery@usa.com

WHATSAPP: +12092944699

WEBSITE: hackbusters.online

1 Go to comments
b
ballard marisol 2 hours ago
Mixed Wales update on availability of Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe

It all started when I was lured into investing by an FX trader I met on Instagram. The trader seemed professional and confident, sharing stories of massive returns from their investments. They promised that I could make five times that back within seven days by investing a certain amount. The offer was too good to pass up, and it was a golden opportunity to grow my money. After all, the trader had proof of their success and seemed trustworthy. I decided to invest, and over the next five weeks, I paid a total of $7,200 to the trader's company. Each time I tried to withdraw my funds or the supposed earnings I’d accumulated, they came up with new excuses and reasons why I needed to pay more money before I could access my earnings. They claimed I had to cover additional fees, taxes, or "security deposits" before processing my withdrawal. At first, I hesitated, but with every new claim, they made it seem like I had no other choice if I wanted to see my money again. It was a frustrating and confusing process, and each time I questioned them, they reassured me that I would get my money soon. Eventually, I realized I had been scammed. I was fed up and desperate, but I didn’t know what to do. That’s when, luckily, I stumbled upon a post from someone who had gone through a similar situation. They recommended a company called Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of crypto recovery experts who specialize in helping people recover lost funds from fraudulent investment schemes. At first, I was hesitant. After all, I’d already been deceived once, and I wasn’t sure if I could trust another company. However, I decided to take the risk and contacted Tech Cyber Force Recovery. I shared my transaction history and details with them, and within just seven hours, they asked for my wallet address. To my amazement, I received $6,300 back into my wallet. I can’t express how grateful I am to Tech Cyber Force Recovery for their help. They were professional, prompt, and thorough in their approach, and they truly helped me recover a significant portion of my lost money. If you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly recommend reaching out to recovery experts like Tech Cyber Force Recovery. They truly made a difference in my case, and I’m incredibly thankful for their support.You can reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery MAIL Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

4 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING England player ratings vs Wales | 2025 Six Nations England player ratings vs Wales | 2025 Six Nations
Search