‘She’ll be cheering on from heaven’: Itoje sad his late mother will not see him win 100th cap

England captain reaches milestone against Ireland

Itoje: ‘I know she would have loved the occasion’

Maro Itoje says his late motherwill be at Twickenham in spirit when the England captain wins his 100th cap in the Six Nations showdown with Ireland on Saturday.

After Florence Itoje died in December, the Saracens second-row was absent from the start of England’s pre-tournament training camp in Girona to attend her funeral in Nigeria.

Steve Borthwick’s side must beat Ireland to keep their championship hopes afloat after a sobering defeat in Scotland last Saturday, and the 31-year-old said his pride in reaching a century of international caps would be tinged with sadness.