(Reuters) – England head coach Eddie Jones has modified his mind on Maro Itoje’s potential as a future captain, saying that he has seen the Saracens lock mature an important deal over the previous six months.
Jones wrote in his e-book “Leadership” that Itoje was “too inward-looking” for the function, however informed the Telegraph on Tuesday he was transferring in the appropriate path.
“I’ve by no means seen a man mature as a lot as he has within the final six months so it has been a extremely good interval for him,” Jones stated.
“I’m going to contradict myself — and contradiction’s an enormous a part of life — however I’ve obtained little doubt sooner or later he’ll captain England. Whether that is in my time or another person’s time.”
Jones additionally praised Itoje’s contribution in England’s wins over Tonga, Australia and South Africa final month, including that the 27-year-old had been extra instantly concerned in group communication in current outings.
“He is basically transferring in the appropriate path and it was attention-grabbing the function that he performed within the group in the course of the autumn,” Jones stated. “He took on the function liable for group communication.
“It is when the group get collectively to speak about issues they should discuss to. And nobody’s achieved a greater job than he has achieved so I’m actually happy with the best way he’s transferring.”
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
