Fans called for Lions star Maro Itoje to be banned after ugly incident
As they kick off their summer series, the England lock will be looked upon to set the tone with his leadership. Despite a loss to Argentina in Dublin prior to heading Down Under, the Lions have since been unbeaten, securing five victories out of five on Australian turf. However, the heat is about to be turned up in Brisbane, where Itoje will need to be on top form.
This comes after the Saracens star faced intense scrutiny during the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa. The 30-year-old was lambasted by hordes of Springboks supporters and South African media following an altercation with centre Damian de Allende.
In fact, some even called for Itoje's suspension after he was seen on camera kneeling on De Allende's chest, shoulder and neck area. This incident occurred during the second Test in Cape Town, which South Africa clinched 27-9, levelling the series ahead of the final match.
Double Rugby World Cup champion De Allende retaliated by tackling Itoje from the ground. He then stood over the England forward and shoved him in the head before Itoje made his own appeal to referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Neither player faced any immediate punishment, but that didn't stop the online community from passing judgement on the unfortunate incident. And it seemed that the majority of fans on social media believed Itoje was at fault. There were calls for Itoje to be suspended following his clash with De Allende (Image: Sky Sports)
One viewer expressed their concern on X, writing: "[Maro Itoje] should be banned after his knee on De Allende's neck! That's dangerous."
Another fan was equally critical, saying: "Itoje also deserved red for this. This is intentional." A third spectator was surprised by the lack of action taken during the game, stating: "Shocked he wasn't thrown out of the game."
A Springboks supporter also weighed in, remarking: "Unacceptable! Maro had a terrible game overall, actually. Complaining and moaning."
Despite the controversy, Itoje has moved past the incident with stellar performances this summer. As Lions captain, he has been one of Andy Farrell's standout players throughout the warm-up matches, justifying his leadership role. Itoje will captain the British and Irish Lions against Australia (Image:)
Itoje found himself on the score sheet in the Lions' emphatic 52-12 victory over Queensland Reds earlier in July. His endurance and high performance levels throughout full matches continue to earn him praise.
With a match against Australia at Lang Park on Saturday, he is expected to be a key focus for the Wallabies as they look to exploit any weaknesses in the Lions' strategy. Joe Schmidt, the former Ireland head coach now leading Australia, is well aware of the threat posed by the opposing captain.
In the second row, Itoje will team up with Leinster's Joe McCarthy. He is one of four England players in the starting lineup, joining Ellis Genge, Tom Curry, and Tommy Freeman in Farrell's chosen XV.
However, it's Itoje's responsibility to avoid getting drawn into trivial disputes that could lead to disciplinary action. Supporters will be hoping that his new role as captain will discourage him from participating in any such altercations.
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