The British and Irish Lions have turned the second-half screws on the Maori All Blacks, emerging 32-10 victors in Rotorua.
Holding a slender 15-10 lead early in the second half, the Lions were handed a major shot in the arm through the controversial sin-binning of Maori halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow – who hit a slipping Leigh Halfpenny high with his shoulder.
Down a man, the Maori struggled to compete with the Lions’ set-piece and were 29-10 behind when Kerr-Barlow’s returned to the field 10 minutes later.
Despite the win, it was another unimposing performance from the Test selection, who are running out of time before next week’s first Test against the All Blacks.
They offered few surprises from beginning to end, sticking to the brawny “Warrenball” style that served them so well last week against the Crusaders – even allowing for an improved performance from Irish playmaker Johnny Sexton.
The unerring boot of Welsh fullback Halfpenny put away four penalty goals in the first half and another two in the second – yet, despite a huge territory and possession advantage, the Lions seldom created try-scoring chances.
When they did, such as through Jonathan Davies and Conor Murray, they often looked to grind out a penalty and turn to the metronomic Halfpenny.
Along with Halfpenny’s 18 points, a penalty try and pick-and-go effort from Englishman Maro Itoje were eventually enough for victory.
The Maori ran the ball with less abandon than expected and frequently sought out tactical kicks to the Lions’ defensive corners.
They were the only side to nab a first-half try, with Liam Messam capitalising on a 12th-minute George North error to grubber ahead for himself and score.
With a two-point deficit at the break, the Maoris’ chances of repeating the 2005 feat of downing the Lions looked good – until Kerr-Barlow’s sin-binning, and the concession of a three-try lead from which they couldn’t recover.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
You really need to calm down mate. There's no doubting the Lions side that went out against the Maori had more time together - but to claim they had 4 games under their belt omits to say that the side that played that night obviously hadn't played together 4 times or even close. And to call them 'full strength' is kinda premature since we've yet to see Gatland's test pick. To be honest, I don't see, hear or read a bunch of 'northern mates' bigging up the Maori win. What I do see is an awful lot of people down here falling over themselves to put it down though. Touchy bunch some of you.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
And that means they 'kept' the ball for 30% of the time. It's not necessarily a measure of the opportunities they had to do something with it. Get the difference?
Ruka
Guest
Did you and your northern mates also acknowledge the Māori had not played a single warm up oppossed to a Near full strength Lions outfit that have been together for the better part of a month and have 4 games under their belts? Of course not, we can't have facts get in the way of reality and we sure don't want those facts to bring the win into perspective. It's much better to blow the win up to be much bigger than what it really was.
Ruka
Guest
The Māori had 30% ball that is swfa
Ruka
Guest
And you expect a team with numerous additions to just click straight off the bat against a full strength Lions test team. Have another puff of whatever it is you are smoking and pass it along.
Ruka
Guest
How can anyone expect the Māori to be competitive after 7 days together and playing against the absolute best of 4 nations combined? Far too many people on here can not separate fact from reality. The Māori were given absolutely nothing to work with and were for all intents and purposes thrown into the Lions Den by the NZRU. Notice how they (NZRU)won't put the All Blacks in there against the Lions undercooked but were more than happy to put the Māori in without so much as a warmup. In 2005 the Māori played a warm up and had all there eligible All Blacks released it was no surprise that they were competitive.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Don't confuse possession stats with opportunity. The Maori had a reasonable amount of ball, they just weren't allowed to do much with it, nor did they didn't protect it for long. No argument, progressive Lions selections need to fashion more tries. Unfortunately, as the necessary familiarity with each other to do that grows through the Tests, so too will the AB's warm up and improve. Assuming the AB's graph starts at a higher base, there's unlikely to be a point of intersection.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Should have been ten times more. Hard to get meters when you have no ball. The Lions efficiency with the amount of ball they had was appalling.
JW89
Roar Rookie
Pretty unbalanced piece of reporting, shame as I would have expected better. Straw poll - did anyone find the sin-binning "controversial" as described?! Whilst I admit to hailing from the NH, my mates and I were discussing whether it was a yellow or red rather than yellow or just penalty. (Before it gets jumped on, we agreed that yellow was the right call). JW
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
According to ESPN more than three times the metres run of any Maori, twice the number of defenders beaten and more offloads ..... lol
superba
Guest
StainlessSteve I watched that game ! The one where against the NZ Maori •the Lions had 70% possesion •the Lions had 70% field position •the MAB did not add a point after half time The Lions slowly suffocated the NZ Maori and shut them down . I enjoyed this game . The execution by the Lions was outstanding in its accuracy . AAP must have been watching something else as his report was grudging and miserable. A pythonesque performance by the Lions . Jakeball vs Basketball Can't wait for the first test .
superba
Guest
StainlessSteve I watched that game ! The one where against the NZ Maori •the Lions had 70% possesion •the Lions had 70% field position •the MAB did not add a point after half time The Lions slowly suffocated the NZ Maori and shut them down . I enjoyed this game . The execution by the Lions was outstanding in its accuracy . A pythonesque performance. Jakeball vs Basketball Can't wait for the first test .
Jumbo
Guest
And his one big run.. lol
Bakkies
Guest
Where did the Maori go last November? They got flogged by Munster's reserves it should have been more if it wasn't for some bizarre refereeing
tigranes
Guest
I bet McKenzie will have nightmares about Big Bad Ben Te'o
taylorman
Roar Guru
Maori only know Super rugby. They havent got northern hem experience and when the first taste of it is the very best players from it, its probably not a good combo. ABs know all these guys, have played more NH sides than even the NH sides have. Theyll adapt and play their game until its time to play their own. That is the difference between the donestic games and the tests. Familiarity and adaptability. Let alone the skill levels. Lions will suddenly run into players they know, players theyve lost to many times, on their own turf. They havent had any if that yet.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Maori just didn't play well, or adapt fast enough. Their captain seemed to get dragged down emotionally. They were penalised out of the game too. Yep, hard to watch after such a epic Haka. But this is good for the All Blacks. We know exactly what to expect, and they can serve some justice for beating up our Maori! The Lions, to their credit, played simply to their strengths, and were just way too good. In real terms, the Maori played the second best team in the world, and their prep wasn't up to scratch. Bless them bro! Another time will come for them. Next time the Maori will learn and win. :)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Wasnt a romp before the game. How come its a romp now? They said that about France who qualified in pool in 15. Its odd how they werent 'useless' until aftet the ABs met them.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Maybe if you have a dull personality, Poth it could be exciting! Don't worry the black machine is waiting and they will show them how the game should be played. The black wave is building... It's on it's way...!
stainlesssteve
Guest
we must have been watching different games, AAP what i saw was terrifying penetration by big, strong slippery backs, whom the Māori tackled by the bootstraps, after they brushed off two or three tacklers first. The Lions forwards seemed to be in control, and only short bursts of wonderful, impassioned Māori play went to establish anything approaching parity. The Lions looked big, fast and hard I still think the ABs will win three, though the first test will probably be the toughest It certainly won't look like the Samoa game It remains to be seen if the Lions have put their cards down; i doubt it And yes, it was two different styles, which went to make a very interesting game. Good stuff, Lions, enjoy the moment, it may not come again.