Six Nations: Maro Itoje held back as opponents catch up quickly

In between making his debut against Italy two years ago and helping the Lions record a drawn Test series against New Zealand, the England lock’s international career was an unqualified success that included a world player of the year nomination.

He was used sparingly during the autumn and – having subsequently recovered from a fractured jaw – he has struggled to make an impact after three rounds of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations title defence.

While Jones has pointed out that the nation which supplies most players to a Lions tour traditionally labours through the next season, he believes there is a different source for Itoje hitting a plateau.

“Maro is in second-season syndrome. First season, no one knows what’s your best shot, no one knows where you score runs,” said Jones, using a cricketing analogy.

“Second season, everyone knows and they take that away from you. And you’ve got to find a different way to score runs. That’s what he’s finding at the moment.

“It’s a great exercise for him, because by the time he gets to the World Cup he’ll be in his third year.

“He is going to be a great player for us. What he’s going through at the moment is very natural.”

Jones believes opponents have found a way to nullify Itoje’s presence at the heart of the forward battle, but is backing the 23-year-old to emerge stronger from an experience that he believes is drawing the best from him.

“Maro is an energetic player who gets a lot of his energy from around the ruck, but he is just not being given that opportunity,” added Jones.

“He is a very diligent and serious player. I have been really impressed by him. He has done remarkably well.

“In fact, I am more impressed by him this season than I was last season because he is working hard to improve his game, he understands he has to improve his game.

“He has to work it out himself but the coaches assist him in steering him in one direction to prioritise his time and effort.

“A lot of players get stuck in second-season syndrome. It’s difficult, particularly when you come out of the blocks in the first season because you not only carry the expectation, you carry more attention from other players.”

England head to Paris for Saturday’s match against France with their title defence delicately poised following a 25-13 defeat to Scotland that has placed Ireland at the forefront of the chase for supremacy in Europe.

“History shows that the team that has the most Lions struggles in the Six Nations,” said Jones.

“There’s a lot of reasons to understand why. We had 16 players on the Lions tour. I always knew this was going to be a tough year, but we haven’t used that as an excuse and we don’t intend to.

“We’ve had to manage players differently, we’ve had to train players differently. We’re getting to the end of it now. I’m starting to see some light about where the players can be.

“But certainly, you’ve got that many players playing a post-season tour – that is three or four times longer than a normal tour – and it’s going to have an effect.”

Dylan Hartley, meanwhile, has emerged as a doubt for England’s trip to Paris on Saturday, while Jack Nowell and Sam Underhill have been ruled out of the trip to Paris. Hartley is struggling with a tight calf and is being monitored daily as Jones’ men prepare to enter the final phase of their faltering title defence.

Nowell and Underhill, both of whom have acted as second-half replacements in the opening three rounds of the tournament, are unavailable due to respective ankle and toe injuries sustained in training over the weekend. It is the development over Hartley’s fitness that is of biggest concern, however, as England face the prospect of losing their captain as they seek to atone for their loss to Scotland.

Jamie George is poised to start at hooker – the position he filled for the British and Irish Lions against New Zealand last summer – if Hartley fails to recover with Owen Farrell the likely replacement as skipper. And in a further blow to front row resources, replacement tighthead prop Harry Williams is struggling with a neck injury.

England have cover for the pair in the form of hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and prop Kyle Sinckler.