Sam Warburton has shared his take on Maro Itoje’s fiery moment during England’s 23-18 Six Nations loss to Italy. The incident caught attention when Itoje was seen on camera shouting at teammate Fin Smith, urging him to “take the three” instead of kicking for the corner. England’s defeat marked their first-ever loss to Italy, adding to the pressure from earlier defeats against Scotland and Ireland.
Warburton, a former Wales captain, discussed this tense moment, noting that it was rare to see Itoje, typically calm and collected, lose his cool. He attributes Itoje’s outburst to the pressure cooker environment that top-level rugby can be, especially when results are not going your way.
Writing in his column, Warburton compared Itoje’s reaction to his own experiences on the field, explaining how emotions can run high and lead to confrontations in the heat of the moment. He shared an anecdote from 2014 when Wales faced South Africa, revealing how his teammate Dan Biggar once screamed “Shut up!” during a game, which Warburton actually appreciated as decisive leadership. According to Warburton, rugby is an emotional sport where such passionate exchanges are not uncommon.
Despite Itoje’s snap, Warburton backs the decision to go for the three points, saying that teams often take unnecessary risks with penalties. Reflecting on his own career, he acknowledges losing his temper with kickers during big matches, though he usually preferred to resolve things calmly.
In the end, Warburton understands the pressures faced by players like Itoje and sees such incidents as part of the game. Rugby, after all, carries its unique brand of intensity and candour, often leading to moments that wouldn’t occur in ordinary life.