Former Scotland head coach Matt Williams has questioned Maro Itoje’s leadership ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour.
Williams, now an outspoken pundit, believes that Itoje and head coach Andy Farrell will be ‘greatly tested’ in Australia and has hailed number eight Harry Wilson, who could lead the Wallabies during the series.
Maro Itoje’s credentials as Lions captain
He also states that the Lions‘ ‘money-making marketing machine’ has kicked into overdrive to suggest that the tourists are ‘morally superior to the south’ despite the fact that the famous invitational team has won just one series this century.
Williams took inspiration from retired Lieutenant General HR McMaster in his latest column for the Irish Times as he questioned Itoje’s ability to lead the Lions effectively.
“Maro Itoje’s credentials as a captain are brief. His leadership in this year’s Six Nations was, at best, rocky and at worst lacking inspiration,” he wrote.
“He will be greatly tested in Australia.
“It may be unfair to compare him with legendary winning Lions captains from the past, such as McBride and Martin Johnson. But, as John Wayne said regarding the dangers of becoming the new sheriff of Dodge City, ‘that comes with the badge’.
“If you want to comprehend the mental strength required to succeed in the white-hot heat of a Lions test match, watch the great Jim Telfer deliver his iconic words to his forward pack before the winning Test of the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa.
“Like George Patton, the famous US army general, General Telfer understood that much of leadership‘s effect comes from a sense of theatre.”
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Praise for Harry Wilson
While Williams questions the leadership of Itoje, he holds Wallabies number eight Wilson in high regard.
The Queensland Reds back-rower was handed the captaincy last year during the Rugby Championship despite being overlooked by head coach Joe Schmidt for the July internationals.
He went on to lead the side throughout the November internationals but Schmidt still admits that he is unsure who his captain will be for 2025.
Still, Williams heaped praise on Wilson.
“Andy Farrell and Itoje have a massive legacy to live up to,” he continued.
“Whatever voice Itoje finds as a leader, it is essential it contains the substance of Telfer‘s message − demanding the mental strength needed to chase constant improvement.
“Itoje’s counterpart will most likely be the Wallabies number eight Harry Wilson. As a country boy from Gunnedah in western New South Wales, he is straightforward, an old-school warrior. He lives the much-loved rugby philosophy that asks: ‘Why use the handle to open the door when you can kick it in?’
“I suspect that Wilson’s leadership style is one that McMaster would admire in battle. It is simply ‘follow me’.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/matt-williams-raises-doubts-over-maro-itojes-rocky-leadership-as-british-and-irish-lions-captain-lacks-inspiration
