Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes stand tall among giants to give Lions edge
Lawes #Lawes
Four years ago Wellington echoed to the chorus of “Oh, Maro Itoje,” as the Lions beat the All Blacks. Ah, but that was the second Test and this was the first. Warren Gatland named the England lock on the bench for the first Test in New Zealand. He was the first name on the team sheet for South Africa.
Four years ago, he nullified Brodie Retallick, widely considered the world’s leading lock and one of the best players on the planet. Tonight Itoje faced an equally formidable opponent in Eben Etzebeth.
Whereas the Kiwi was redefining the way of the lock with his nigh-perfect passing game, the 86-cap South African No 4 is a throwback to the old ways. He grunts in the scrum, hits