Friday 26 February 2016 00:10, UK
Eddie Jones is doing all he can to ensure Maro Itoje remains level-headed despite the growing hype about the 21-year-old.
Saracens lock Itoje will make his full England debut in Saturday's Six Nations fixture against Ireland at Twickenham after an impressive outing as a replacement in the last game against Italy.
A powerful 28-minute cameo in Rome as the hosts were beaten 40-9 was enough to earn him his first start but head coach Jones is making a conscious effort to protect him.
To date, he has kept Itoje from the glare of the media - and is adamant that will only change once he has delivered a performance worthy of focus afterwards.
Jones has reacted that way after seeing Courtney Lawes - who will be on the bench against the Irish - struggle to maintain the standard he set initially when he broke through.
The Australian said: "I want Itoje to be a great rugby player and I don't want him to be built up to be a headline before he's a headline. I'm taking a duty of care with him.
"I want this kid to play 70-80 Tests. He's good enough for that, but I want him to earn his stripes.
"When he's played a massive game for England, has won lineouts and won a significant Test match, then he can talk to the media. He doesn't deserve media exposure. He has done nothing, nothing.
"Lawes lacks confidence about what he is good at and he has just got to get that confidence back and that will come through hard work.
"When Courtney came in, everyone said he would be the next Martin Johnson. He was built up and built up, headlines everywhere. That is what I'm trying to protect Itoje from."
While Jones is wary of getting too carried away by what Itoje might achieve, he acknowledges the player's clear potential.
He added: "Maro is an athletic boy. The best left-hand side lock in the world is [South Africa's] Eben Etzebeth. He can be a more athletic version of Etzebeth.
"He has got better jumping skills than Etzebeth but [Etzebeth] has got that mongrel in his carry and his tackle.
"If Itoje can develop that, he will be world-class as a left-sided lock. And he could play at blindside flanker at a pinch.
"Everyone has got that mongrel. It's how far you have got to dig to get it, how much you want it. If you are scraping for food, have to run to work every day.
"Sometimes circumstances bring it out, sometimes team environment brings it out, or some inspirational person. Itoje has got it, he has just got to find it."
Jones also wants to mix things up with his squad in general and thinks that means a radical overhaul on a large scale is required.
The 56-year-old said: "I think they are too comfortable at the moment. My job is to make them not comfortable.
"And that is the only way we are going to change what has happened in English rugby over the last period of time.
"I can't just bang heads all the time or I will lose them. So it's a matter of finding a way with each of them."
