Maro Itoje scaled one of the most significant peaks in rugby union as a winning Lions captain this summer, but he already faces another formidable climb, this time as England captain.

An Autumn series against Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina over the next six weeks is looming large, with the hitch that Itoje might not have the sharpest of ice-picks to hand when he leads the team out against the Wallabies at Twickenham in a fortnight, because this weekend sees his first match for Saracens this season.
The lock made a landmark 200th club appearance on his return to the Premiership fray a...