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Vunipola: Nothing fazes Itoje
By Alex Fisher
Billy Vunipola has backed England team-mate Maro Itoje to thrive on his first British and Irish Lions tour despite being just 22 years old.
Itoje only made his international debut in 2016 but already has two Six Nations titles to his name as part of Eddie Jones' dominant side.
A call-up from Warren Gatland for the Lions' tour of New Zealand was inevitable after his impressive form for England and Saracens - the lock helping them to back-to-back European Champions Cup successes.
Itoje will not take part in the Lions' first tour match with the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians on Saturday, but is expected to be in the first XV for the opening Test with the All Blacks on June 24.
Vunipola is not surprised, having been amazed by his Saracens team-mate's performances at such an early stage of his career.
"He's such a good player that you don't really think that he's only 22," Vunipola told Omnisport.
"I think that's one of his best features, is that nothing kind of fazes him. He has that amazing ability to kind of take things as they come.
"Like he's doing university and he does all his uni work on our plane back from away games. He'll just turn up and just be Maro on the pitch, and afterwards, just Maro still.
"Nothing really fazes him or changes him, and I think that's the best thing about him."
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Latest Comments
I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
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