Rampant Lions make big statement with record win over Maoris
The British and Irish Lions made a statement by silencing their critics with a record 32-10 victory over the Maori All Blacks at a packed Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday.
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said Warren Gatland was “running out of time” to produce a Lions team with a style capable of troubling the world champions a week before the three-Test series gets under way.
The Lions, though, let their rugby do the talking a day after the All Blacks’ 78-0 demolition of Samoa, though, dominating the Maoris in a hugely impressive performance after losing to Highlanders on Tuesday.
A direct, physical approach paid off for the tourists, who were far too good for the undisciplined Moaris and were rewarded with a penalty try and another for the superb Maro Itoje in a one-sided second half after Tawera Kerr-Barlow was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Leigh Halfpenny.
An expectant crowd did not see the stylish Maori display they were hoping for, as the Lions put them under immense pressure by winning their battles all over the park, with Liam Messam scoring their only try in a first half played in wet conditions.
Jonathan Sexton staked a huge claim for the number 10 spot, with Owen Farrell absent due to a reported quadriceps injury, while Halfpenny was magnificent as the Lions racked up their biggest ever win over the Maoris.
The trusty Halfpenny nailed all seven kicks to stay perfect with the boot on tour – scoring 22 points on the night – and Gatland will be looking for more of the same from the Lions when they face Chiefs on Tuesday.
Official #MABvBIL attendance: 28,177
Thank you for your brilliant support ??#LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/cPQ3JUH61w
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 17, 2017
Sexton’s high kicks caused the Maoris huge problems from the start and led to two Halfpenny penalties after the Lions came charging out of the blocks.
Messam took advantage of poor handling from George North in testing conditions to boot a loose ball forward and touch down for an opening try, which Damian McKenzie converted against the run of play to put the Maoris in front.
The clinical Halfpenny and McKenzie, with his trademark smile before stepping up to kick, exchanged further penalties to leave the tourists 10-9 down as Sexton continued to pose questions of the Maoris with the boot.
A clever Sexton kick right into the corner gave the Lions a great chance to score their opening try after 26 minutes, only for a poor lineout to let the Maoris off the hook, but Halfpenny’s fourth successful strike from the tee gave the tourists a 12-10 lead.
McKenzie was off target from long range prior to the interval and the Lions remained on top following the break, the influential Sexton launching steepling kicks and Gatland’s men dominating set-pieces.
Halfpenny sent over another penalty and did well to pick himself up after he was cleaned out by a dangerous tackle from Kerr-Barlow, who was shown a yellow card – which could easily have been red.
The Lions thought they had cashed in on their numerical advantage almost immediately when Jamie George powered his way towards the line, but the TMO could not see any evidence that the England hooker had got the ball over.
The Maoris gave away numerous penalties and referee Jaco Peyper awarded a penalty try after they were overpowered in a scrum in the 51st minute.
Matt Proctor departed with a shoulder injury after colliding with an inspired Halfpenny and Itoje bulldozed his way over for another five-pointer for a rampant Lions side after 54 minutes.
Halfpenny converted and took his record from the tee on the evening to seven out of seven as the Lions showed plenty of encouraging signs that they can challenge the world champions.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments