Things boiled over in brutal fashion during the Lions\u2019 latest clash as Maro Itoje and Aussie enforcer Will Skelton locked horns in an explosive bust-up \u2014 but it\u2019s what Itoje\u00a0said after\u00a0that has lit up social media.<\/p>\n
Join the\u00a0RUCK\u2019s WhatsApp community here<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.<\/p>\n In the middle of the melee, cameras caught the Lions captain seemingly saying to the referee:\u00a0\u201cHe started it, Sir!\u201d\u00a0\u2014 and fans have been\u00a0ruthless\u00a0in their reaction.<\/p>\n Many took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out the England star, branding the schoolyard-style protest as \u201cembarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cItoje. \u2018He started it, Sir!\u2019 Back at school!! \ud83d\ude02,\u201d one fan wrote.<\/p>\n Another added: \u201cThe whole \u2018he started it, Sir\u2019 type bullshit from Itoje is so embarrassing. It\u2019s not school, mate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe started it Sir\u201d \u2014 embarrassing from Itoje,\u201d echoed a third.<\/p>\n A fourth simply posted: \u201cItoje \u2018He started it Sir\u2019 \ud83d\ude2c\ud83d\ude2c\ud83d\ude2c\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time Itoje\u2019s on-field chat has come under fire \u2014 but this one has fans asking if the Lions skipper should let his rugby do the talking.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n \u201c3\/10!\u201d \u2013 Four Lions Stars Who Flopped in Second Test (And Who Should Take Their Place)<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time since 1997 that the Lions have wrapped up a series in the opening two Tests\u2014but not everyone covered themselves in glory. Here are four players who flopped in Melbourne and should make way for the final Test.<\/p>\n RUCK\u2019s Lions content is\u00a0powered by\u00a0ISUZU.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n #1. JAMES LOWE<\/p>\n Despite a classy offload for Beirne\u2019s try and some composed moments, Lowe was error-prone under the high ball and defensively vulnerable once again. A mixed bag leaning heavily toward underperformance.<\/p>\n BALLS 5\/10: <\/a>\u201cOne good flicked offload to Gibson-Park. Spilled a high ball, early in the second half. Composed take and footwork, on 57 minutes. Great step and offload for Beirne\u2019s try. His best, and last, contribution of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Telegraph 3\/10: \u201cLovely offload to put Beirne over but was another disappointing display. A liability once again in defence and several handling errors.\u201d<\/p>\n RUCK 4\/10: \u201cLowe has looked off the tempo in both tests and today was another story of that. He never got going and was exposed hugely in defence. In attack he was nothing to fear for the Wallabies apart from his assist for Beirne.\u201d<\/p>\n Replacement: Duhan van der Merwe <\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n