Young Gun: Maro Itoje – Saracens lock

Until the U20s Six Nations, lock Maro Itoje, 19, didn’t list try-scoring among his strengths but after touchdowns in all five of England’s matches that’s all changed.
But to those who have seen him in action for Old Albanians in National League One this season, it will have come as little surprise.
Ask around in the third tier and there’s one player who sticks in their memory, one man they expect to see pulling on the senior England shirt sooner rather than later.
Under Steve Borthwick at Saracens, he’s only getting better and while crossing the whitewash is a new-found talent, perhaps it harks back to his promising football career.
He said: “Football was my sport for a while, at centre-back or centre-forward – I suppose I was a bit of a Didier Drogba. I played a lot of basketball as well, I represented England U17s, but I’ve been playing rugby since secondary school and that’s now the sport I love.
“I hadn’t really thought about scoring tries, it’s not what you think about in the second row, but I’ve been lucky enough to get on the end of some for Old Albanians as well as England.
“After not such a great start against France, we showed what we could do in the Six Nations and we’ll go to the Junior World Championship in New Zealand with confidence.
“We all know about what the guys did last year and we’re desperate to defend the trophy.”
Saracens boast among the biggest squads in the Premiership and are not exactly lacking in the second row department – Borthwick may be retiring at the end of the season but George Kruis, Alistair Hargreaves and Hayden Smith are available. Itoje, however, admits that just the chance to rub shoulders with Borthwick and Co is improving him no end.
“I can’t tell you how great it is to have someone like Steve Borthwick to learn from,” he added. “The thing about him that hits you most is just how knowledgeable he is about the game and he’s always happy to share that.
“At Sarries we all train together so you’re learning all the time and a position like second row, where it can be technical in the lineout and things like that, it’s invaluable.”
Over the summer Saracens set about righting wrongs of last season via recruitment. They crashed out of the Heineken Cup and Aviva Premiership at the semi-final stage.
They added muscle in the form of James Johnston and Billy Vunipola but that’s not to say there is no emphasis on youth.
As well as Itoje, England U20s boasted free-scoring centre Nick Tompkins and full-back Nathan Earle while flyer Aaron Morris also trains with the Sarries academy.
And Itoje, who captained England U20s when Callum Braley was injured, admits that his clubmates made his job all the easier.
“There are a few of us at Saracens and having them in the international set-up, a few familiar faces was great,” he added.