England’s Maro Itoje is set to take on the mantle of captaincy during the upcoming Six Nations tournament, a move that has received an endorsement from Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne. A seasoned forward who shared the field with Itoje during their British and Irish Lions tour in South Africa four years ago, Beirne believes the responsibility of leading the England squad could elevate Itoje’s game to new heights.
Itoje, known for his exceptional talent and fierce competitiveness, has always been a player who thrives under pressure. According to Beirne, the lock’s ability to influence games and drive his team to victory makes him a natural fit for the captain’s role. “He’s a phenomenal player, he’s shown that throughout his career,” Beirne remarked. “He can be the reason a team ticks and a reason they win games, because of the influence he can have on the game.”
Transitioning from the leadership of Jamie George, who served as captain under Steve Borthwick since the 2023 World Cup, Itoje is poised to step into a new chapter as the skipper for this campaign. Beirne is confident that this change in role will only enhance Itoje’s performance on the field. “Being in that captain’s role for England now, I’m sure it will elevate his performance even more,” Beirne stated. “It often does bring out the best in players and he’ll probably be no different.”
As the stage is set for Ireland to face off against England in their Six Nations opener on Saturday, Beirne acknowledges the historical rivalry between the two teams. Reflecting on their previous encounters, Beirne expressed his disappointment over England’s victory at Twickenham last year, which dashed Ireland’s hopes of securing back-to-back Grand Slams. “Twickenham was incredibly disappointing,” Beirne recalled. “They took away the Grand Slam from us, but we kind of took it away from ourselves with how we played in that game.”
Despite the setback, Ireland managed to bounce back and clinch the championship title by defeating Scotland in their final match. However, the missed opportunity for a Grand Slam victory still lingers for Beirne. “I’d love to be sitting here saying I’m a back-to-back Grand Slam winner but we did have an opportunity to make ourselves feel better by winning the championship,” Beirne remarked.
With tensions running high and the anticipation building for the upcoming showdown between Ireland and England, Beirne’s insights into Itoje’s new role as captain add an intriguing layer to the narrative. As fans eagerly await the start of the Six Nations tournament, all eyes will be on Itoje to see how he navigates the challenges and responsibilities that come with leading his team into battle on the rugby field.
