Maori All Blacks player ratings vs Ireland
Ireland arrived in Hamilton hoping to score their first-ever win over the Maori All Blacks on a dewy night at Waikato Stadium.
While neither side were able to assert to much dominance in the trying conditions in the first quarter of the match, the home side eventually started to build some ascendancy late in the first half, and entered the break with a strong 32-10 advantage.
The second half was a ding-dong affair, with both sides creating chances but struggling to capitalise. Ireland, in particular, threw themselves at the line time after time but couldn’t quite get the ball down on a multitude of occasions, only grabbing one try. That score gave the Irish the only points of the half, however, with the Maori All Blacks ultimately triumphing 32-17.
Who were the best performers for the Maori All Blacks in the victory?
1. Ollie Norris – 7.5/10
Stood up at scrum time and was always a willing carrier of the ball. Built from his strong form for the Chiefs and will have reinforced his place in the national pecking order. Off in 62nd minute.
2. Kurt Eklund – 6
Shook of his lineout yips from the Super Rugby Pacific final to hit his lineout jumpers with accuracy – bar one miscommunication. Busy on defence and was ambitious with his carries, although wasn’t always able to generate much in the way of go-forward.
3. Tyrel Lomax – 6
Generally strong at the set-piece – although was pinged at Ireland’s first feed of the scrum. Despite putting his hands up to carry, his ball security let him down on a couple of occasions. Case in point, dropped the ball inside the Maori 22, handing Ireland an excellent attacking opportunity – although they weren’t able to capitalise.
4. Josh Dickson – 7.5
Useful at the lineout and made his presence known on defence. Made one crucial tackle when Irish centre James Hume almost slipped through the line with his side’s first bout of possession. Helped hold up one of many Irish raids to the tryline and grabbed one lineout steal. Off in 62nd minute.
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere – 7.5
A strong presence on both sides of the ball, playing his way into the national selection frame. Secured three great breakdown turnovers, one in the 32nd minute two in the second half but was penalised once for getting offside at the breakdown.
6. Cameron Suafoa – 5.5
Looked good roaming in the wider channels, throwing one audacious offload, but struggled to assert himself when the defence was pressing hard. A no-nonsense sort of selection but couldn’t quite generate the physical ascendency the Maori All Blacks were looking for.
View this post on Instagram
7. Billy Harmon – 7
Showed off his perhaps underrated carrying game throughout the match, either fighting his way through tackles or stepping around them altogether. Was guilty of biting in on an already marked defender when Ireland launched from a lineout in the 21st minute, giving Bundee Aki a clean run to the line.
8. Cullen Grace – 8
Forged ahead following his exceptional form at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season. Hurtled into the Irish defence with every carry of the ball. Was on hand to throw his body over the line for the Maori All Blacks’ third try of the match, right before halftime. Teamed up with Dickson to snuff out an Ireland attack when they looked likely. An all-around excellent performance.
9. Brad Weber – 6
Quick to the breakdown, as has become expected of the persnickety halfback. Probably didn’t quite have the accuracy the Maori All BLacks would have liked from their captain but burrowed over for a try nonetheless. Off in 50th minute.
10. Josh Ioane – 6.5
Attacked the line regularly to set up opportunities for his teammates. Set up the Maori All Blacks’ second try with with an excellent midfield break before delivering the ball to Shaun Stevenson on the wing. Missed a regulation shot on goal in the 25th minute which would have handed his side the lead but made up for it with general attacking play. Kicking game was also relatively solid on a wet night, but also handed much of the responsibility to fullback Zarn Sullivan.
11. Connor Garden-Bachop – 7
Safe under the high ball and made some damaging runs with his few opportunities. Perhaps overshadowed by some of his teammates in the backline but generally went about his business with accuracy and impetus. A strong improvement from his work with the Highlanders throughout 2022.
12. Rameka Poihipi – 5
Operated as a distributor moreso than a playmaker, ensuring the ball was regularly fed out to the dangerous outside backs. Made his tackles but his hands let him down on occasion, and struggled to assert any dominance in the midfield.
13. Billy Proctor – 5.5
Got blindsided in the act of throwing his first pass, with the ball hitting the deck, but was generally reliable throughout the latter stages of the match. Got through his fair share of work off the ball – including on defence – but perhaps doesn’t have that je ne sais quoi that the Maori All Blacks needed in the midfield.
14. Shaun Stevenson – 7.5
Caused havoc for the Irish defence. Made a nice half-break down the righthand side with his first carry and then scored a well-taken try with an excellent run on the same flank. Immediately before halftime, set up a brilliant length of the field try to Grace (although the final pass out wide left much to be desired). Generally dominated with the ball in hand and looked sharp after a few weeks out of action. Off in 50th minute.
15. Zarn Sullivan – 8
Pulled out all the stops with his kicking game, including making a pearler of a 50/22 at the end of the first quarter – and then scoring from the ensuing attacking foray. Was safe as houses under the high ball and looked to challenge Ireland on the counter-attack. A strong performance.
Reserves:
16. Tyrone Thompson – N/A
On in 70th minute.
17. Tamaiti Williams – 6.5
On in 62nd minute. Combined with Ruben Love, off all players, to deliver some aggressive defence inside Ireland’s 22 late in the piece to force an excellent turnover. Looked for work around the park.
18. Jermaine Ainsley – 4
On in ~57th minute. Struggled at the set-piece – the Maori scrum was significantly weaker with Tyrel Lomax off the field.
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit – N/A
On in 62nd minute. 1 lineout.
20. TK Howden – N/A
On in ~68th minute.
21. TJ Perenara – 6.5
On in 50th minute. Looked to kick early after joining the fray but soon realised that his backs had more to offer. Strong on defence, as is expected of the experience scrumhalf.
22. Ruben Love – N/A
On in 68th minute. Hit the posts with a straightforward penalty attempt and couldn’t nail a snap drop goal either.
23. Bailyn Sullivan – 7
On in 50th minute. Added impetus with every carry and could be worthy of a start in the second game with Ireland.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments