New England captain Maro Itoje is “world class” however can get “even better” in line with head coach Steve Borthwick forward of the beginning of the 2025 Six Nations.
The 30-year-old Saracens lock was introduced as membership team-mate Jamie George’s substitute to skipper the nationwide aspect earlier this month, and can lead England after they open their championship marketing campaign away to defending champions Eire on Saturday February 1.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities at Tuesday’s Six Nations launch, Borthwick mentioned:
“Maro is a world class player, but he can get even better and add other elements to his game.
“He is a participant who thinks deeply in regards to the sport, but in addition performs in a fiercely aggressive method. And that stability is a good instance for all our gamers.
“In each nice workforce I have been concerned in, there’s all the time an incredible group of leaders. Having Maro step up, Ellis Genge as vice-captain, we’re creating nice leaders.
“My expectations, the gamers expectations and the supporters expectations are that we go into every sport with a plan to win the sport and perception to win the sport.
“We’ve got a really good group of players that I have trust, faith and confidence in.”
Itoje: Captaincy determination stunned me
Itoje was described by earlier England head coach Eddie Jones as too ‘inward-looking’ to make captain throughout his time in cost.
The second row admits the decision by Borthwick caught him off guard, and added the lack of George – who has since suffered a hamstring harm and been dominated out of England opener in opposition to Eire – shall be felt by the squad.
“I definitely was surprised,” Itoje advised Sky Sports activities. “Jamie is a brilliant person so I didn’t really expect it.
Itoje changed Saracens teammate Jamie George as England captain, and say he was ‘positively stunned’
“I’m incredibly honoured, grateful and humbled to be asked to do the role.
“Jamie is a high quality participant and particular person, so at any time when you do not have somebody like that in and across the group, we’re positively going to overlook him and we want him a speedy restoration.”
Six Nations 2025 fixtures: England
- February 1: Eire (a)
- February 8: France (h)
- February 22: Scotland (h)
- March 9: Italy (h)
- March 15: Wales (a)
