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<blockquote data-quote="Vieux Talonneur" data-source="post: 1021017" data-attributes="member: 73144">I know about the symbolism of Itoje / Kilosi and that Johnson will get thrown back in my face but Itoje&#039;s a big risk for captaincy in my book.He seems to have the raw attributes but it&#039;s just his complete lack of experience at senior level and as we&#039;ve seen with Faz there&#039;s a massive difference between being a leader and the leader. In addition to on field decision making which is difficult enough in a high pressure series, there&#039;s all the off field stuff too and he&#039;ll be in demand everywhere. It&#039;s a short tour and if he doesn&#039;t get things right to start with then it&#039;s a hell of an ask to pull it round, especially without any leadership experience to draw on.Hogg&#039;s a bit of a curve ball but he seems to have matured as a person (that&#039;s what moving to England does for you...), he&#039;s captaining Sco without his form being overly affected. And having seen the Russell situation close up will have only helped him to understand some of the off field dynamics. I&#039;m not saying he&#039;s a shoe in, but I definitely think Gatland will be taking serious soundings.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Vieux Talonneur, post: 1021017, member: 73144"] I know about the symbolism of Itoje / Kilosi and that Johnson will get thrown back in my face but Itoje’s a big risk for captaincy in my book. He seems to have the raw attributes but it’s just his complete lack of experience at senior level and as we’ve seen with Faz there’s a massive difference between being a leader and the leader. In addition to on field decision making which is difficult enough in a high pressure series, there’s all the off field stuff too and he’ll be in demand everywhere. It’s a short tour and if he doesn’t get things right to start with then it’s a hell of an ask to pull it round, especially without any leadership experience to draw on. Hogg’s a bit of a curve ball but he seems to have matured as a person (that’s what moving to England does for you...), he’s captaining Sco without his form being overly affected. And having seen the Russell situation close up will have only helped him to understand some of the off field dynamics. I’m not saying he’s a shoe in, but I definitely think Gatland will be taking serious soundings. [/QUOTE]

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