Maro Itoje, the formidable lock for England, the British and Irish Lions, and Saracens, tends to refrain from offering praise to his opponents.
When asked to name his toughest opponent by The Times he was less than open with his response.
“Good question,” he replied. “The other second row, outside of the locks in England, that I hold in the highest regard is probably … I don’t actually like complimenting people in my position to be honest.
“I don’t even want to give them the compliment. I guess we’ll leave it at that.”
However, during other interviews the 26-year-old has given a bit of an inside look into some of his opponents.
He didn’t include Eben Etzebeth…
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#3. Charles Piutau
A dynamic and versatile rugby sensation, Charles Piutau hails from New Zealand and has lit up rugby fields worldwide with his electrifying pace and exceptional skills. Known for his stints with the All Blacks and Bristol Bears, Piutau is a true game-changer in the rugby world.
Itoje said: ”For me it’s always those quick guys you can’t quite get a hold of that give me the most trouble for sure. I’m not sure if I’ve played him this year but Piutau is a real handful.”
