Jones: Itoje has to earn his stripes
Eddie Jones is determined to shield rising England star Maro Itoje from the spotlight after seeing Courtney Lawes struggle to maintain the standards he set earlier in his career.
Itoje, 21, will make his full debut in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations title showdown with Ireland at Twickenham, confining the far more experience Lawes to a covering role on the bench.
To date in the 2016 Championship, Itoje has been the subject of a media blackout enforced by Jones and the England head coach will only allow him any publicity once he has begun delivering on the pitch.
"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," Jones said.
"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 line-outs 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."
Itoje produced a forceful 28-minute cameo from the bench when Italy were routed 40-9, but Jones believes the Saracens locks needs to develop a harder edge.
"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," Jones said.
"He has got better jumping skills than Etzebeth, but he 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."