One day the clarity may come for Maro Itoje and he will be able to recall exactly what he said in his closing arguments to referee Andrea Piardi as the Italian official deliberated over a decision that eventually went the way of the British and Irish Lions. In the immediacy of victory, Itoje’s recollections were a little foggy but it is fair to assume that his words in support of the legality of Jac Morgan’s challenge were not the fine-tuned case for the defence of an experienced barrister.
“I don’t really know, to be honest,” Itoje offered when asked what had been uttered as he, Piardi and opposite number Harry Wilson gathered. “It was fine. Naturally, their captain was trying to get his point across and, in my view, argue for something that didn’t happen. I guess I was just arguing for something that did happen. Fortunately, Jac was accurate with what he was doing and everything was fine.”
