Lions captain Maro Itoje will be under pressure to stay disciplined this summer, with memories of his 2021 controversy in South Africa still fresh in the minds of many rugby fans.
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The Saracens star came under fire during the last British & Irish Lions tour after a heated moment with Springboks centre Damian de Allende.
The now 30-year-old was blasted by South African media and fans alike after footage showed him kneeling on De Allende’s chest, shoulder, and neck area during the brutal second Test in Cape Town — a match the Boks won 27-9 to level the series.
The incident sparked a major backlash online.
One viewer wrote on X: “[Maro Itoje] should be banned after his knee on De Allende’s neck! That’s dangerous.”
A second added: “Itoje also deserved red for this. This is intentional.”
“Shocked he wasn’t thrown out of the game,” a third fumed, breaking down the incident.
Another Springboks supporter chimed in: “Unacceptable! Maro had a terrible game overall, actually. Complaining and moaning.”
Despite the uproar, Itoje avoided suspension — but the moment remains a stain on an otherwise stellar international résumé.
Fast forward to 2025, and it looks like the towering lock has put that chapter behind him. His performances in the warm-up matches have been nothing short of commanding, justifying Andy Farrell’s decision to hand him the captaincy.
Itoje is all but guaranteed to start all three matches against the Wallabies. But make no mistake — the spotlight is firmly on him, and any lapse in discipline could reignite old flames.
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