Maro Itoje’s head has been in Moussa’s palms for greater than a decade.
From behind the barber’s chair, Moussa has seen Itoje mature from a much-hyped teenager to a three-time 30-year-old British and Irish Lion.
Now captain for the primary time, one in every of Itoje’s last appointments earlier than departing for Australia is to have his mane trimmed.
“It has been some time,” says Itoje of his and Moussa’s relationship.
“It will be a problem on tour.
“You at all times must have some belief – a little bit of a leap of religion – while you stroll into a brand new barber’s chair. Particularly in Australia, the place I do not assume they’re too used to Afro-Caribbean hair!”
Religion, and contingency plans, can be a theme for Itoje over the subsequent 5 weeks.
When requested about how faith fitted into his techniques, former Labour spin guru Alastair Campbell famously mentioned “we do not do God”.
Itoje, who was launched to Campbell by England group supervisor Richard Hill as a teenager and stays in contact, positively does.
At his unveiling as Lions captain in Could, he revealed he had missed Bible research to be there.
When he was promoted to England captain in January, his pastor was one in every of six individuals he instructed earlier than the general public announcement., exterior
Requested concerning the lengthy journey to each posts, Itoje has a easy clarification: “God’s timing is at all times one of the best time.”
“Within the final two or three years I’ve made a acutely aware resolution to double down in that regard,” he tells BBC Sport.
“I used to be most likely a lukewarm Christian for a big a part of my life. I used to be most likely somebody who went to church, however was probably not residing the rules or values of it that deeply, however I’ve at all times been a believer.
“The humility that I’ve tried to embody all through my life positively comes from understanding that every little thing I’ve has been a present, not by my very own doing, however by the man upstairs.”
By Itoje’s excessive requirements and personal admission, that humility wasn’t at all times current on earlier Lions excursions.
He has described his 22-year-old self, who received over the Lions followers’ sea of crimson in New Zealand in 2017, as “just a little bit brash and a bit naive”.
This time round, on the very centre of the hype and hoopla, he’s decided to maintain his calm and routine.
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