Many an English rugby fan in modern times will have guessed Maro Itoje would one day captain the national team, such was the extent of his commanding presence even as a youngster.
It may have even been the overwhelming opinion that Itoje would have been handed the Red Rose reins before now, but at 27, the Saracens star has hardly missed the boat to take on leadership duties.
Just ask Courtney Lawes, who deputised as England captain at 32 years of age when they faced Tonga in November, with regular skipper Owen Farrell ruled out due to Covid-19 at the time.
It was believed Northampton Saints stalwart Lawes would again assume the armband following an injury setback that looks set to rule Farrell out of the Six Nations opener away to Scotland on February 5.
That fate now looks uncertain after it emerged Lawes has been unable to train due to a head injury, while George Ford has received his first call-up in almost a year to help cover for Farrell.
Head coach Eddie Jones isn't expected to name his new captain until the team is announced to face Scotland at Murrayfield, but an unexpected sequence of events could prove to England's benefit in the long term.
Tom Curry and Ellis Genge —two of Jones' vice-captains during the autumn series—are the other top contenders to take on the role, having each skippered respective clubs Sale and Leicester in the past.
Jones, 61, previously suggested Itoje was too "inward-looking" for the leadership role, writing in 'Leadership: Lessons from My Life in Rugby' that he was "not sure Maro is a future England captain."
It's no mean feat to make the former Wallabies coach walk back his own words, however, and Jones said in December that his opinion on that aspect of the irrepressible Itoje had changed.
"I've never seen a guy mature as much as he has in the last six months so it's been a really good period for him," he said during an appearance on Brian Moore 's 'Full Contact' Telegraph podcast.
"I'm going to contradict myself - and contradiction's a big part of life - but I've got no doubt in the future he will captain England. Whether that's in my time or someone else's time."
Opportunities for Itoje's evolution under his watch are running dry given Jones is inclined to cut ties with England following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
A lot can change in 18 months, however, and a step up in responsibilities now would still grant any potential new skipper plenty of time to acclimate before the flight to France.
It's a change of structure that makes perfect sense given the current deliberations concerning England's squad.
There are few guarantees in Test-level rugby, but Itoje is one of the few 'undroppable' cases at Jones' disposal, a rare example of player who simply has to be included regardless of circumstance.
Incumbent captain Farrell, meanwhile, finds himself at the centre of discussion in regards to whether he should even start for the national team, with Harlequins starlet Marcus Smith the clear first-choice fly-half.
That leaves him migrating back to the centre role he occupied for much of Ford's first foray as an England international, though many are of the belief that will hinder the team, rather than help it.
Lawes has grown as a leading figure in a very similar circumstance to Itoje, each larger-than-life in stature but both rather stoic when it comes to vocalising.
For his part, Jones appears to have aided that side of Itoje's game after it emerged the Australian had sent his star to acting lessons, bringing confidence levels further in line with his rare talent as a rugby player.
England will care little for whether the Londoner receives the Academy Award—but that dramatic exploration will be well worth the time if it helps bring silverware back to Headquarters.
Having debuted in 2016, we as fans have also become desensitised to just how remarkable Itoje—who produces player-of-the-match-worthy displays at seeming ease—has been during the first half of his career.
A four-time Premiership champion and three-time winner of the Champions Cup, he's also a veteran of 51 England caps and one-time European Player of the Year.
Itoje is also a veteran of two British and Irish Lions tours and will have picked up a war chest of pointers from some of the best leaders the northern hemisphere has known.
There may be some concern that the added responsibility of captaining one's team may take away from the lock's productivity around the park, but Itoje appears to be of that rare breed who thrive on such pressure.
Lawes has impressed in his limited role as torchbearer, but as he turns 33 in February, it may serve little purpose to delegate captaincy duties to him when he shares a pack with a more worthy investment.
It's all but guaranteed that Itoje (and 23-year-old Curry) will be very prominent figures for the country not only in France next year, but at the next World Cup in 2027—and possibly the one after that.
Would it not therefore pay dividends to settle the debate before it has a chance to become one, and hand the reins to one whose certain to play a big part in the imminent England era?
Jones may not be around to oversee it himself after all, but as his recent investment in young talent suggests, the coach appears to hold concern for England beyond what they accomplish during his tenure.
Itoje can follow in and even outgrow the footsteps of greats like Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio, pack leaders of a bygone era who led England as indispensable characters.
The talent has never been in question, but after adding another string to his bow in communication, it's difficult to envision a box Itoje doesn't tick as Farrell's natural replacement for the years to come.
