How masterful was Itoje's masterpiece? The semi-final win over New Zealand
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In my series, Bakkies Botha has so far set the gold standard for a grinder lock in one complete match: 1.1 involvements per minute in the brutally physical Rugby World Cup final of 2007, a quantum leap up from the best of 2020’s tighthead locks playing in the Tri Nations.
His positive-to-neutral ratio was still sky high, even with a full 80 minutes of Bakkie-ness. He hit rucks with sickening force. He stole lineouts.