2003-2019 head-to-head: Johnson v Itoje
He led England to World Cup glory, but how would Martin Johnson compare to England's World Cup finalists of 2019?
With help from the Opta Team at Stats Perform we’ve compared how the performances of England’s World Cup winning captain compares to that of his 2019 counterpart Maro Itoje.
Appearances
There was a two-game difference between the pair, with Johnson playing every game in the tournament, while Itoje played two less, missing one postponed match against France because of typhoon Hagibis.
Attack
But how did they compare in attack? The graphs below show their carry total figures, as well as an average to reflect the difference in games played. As highlighted, Johnson had a higher average of metres gained - a feature of his game carrying for England in 2003.
IN TOTAL
AVERAGE
Defence
And in defence? Maro proved to be more of a nuisance at the breakdown which is an indication as to how rugby has evolved over the past 16 years. The breakdown now more contested, but also highlights Itoje's versatility in that he has also played back row for England where he would have more direct contact in that area.
IN TOTAL
AVERAGE
Highlighted below are Rugby World Cup averages which also show how trends and styles in the game are changing.
As the Stats Perform Team at Opta explain in this article: "Modern players also boast greater fitness levels, allowing for higher intensity games with longer periods of continuous play. This has had a direct knock-on effect on number of carries and tackles made.
Set piece
And finally, how did they compare at the lineout? Both Johnson and Itoje showed their influence in this area with similar statistics, helping their sides solidify a solid set piece which is a crucial area in international rugby - something that hasn't changed in 16 years.
