Winger Jordan Larmour scored two tries as Ireland’s midweek side backed up the Test team with a breakthrough of their own on Tuesday, beating the Maori All Blacks for the first time with a 30-24 victory in the final tour match in Wellington.
Three days after the Test side earned a first victory over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil, the second stringers rebounded from a 32-17 defeat two weeks ago for a maiden win in their fourth clash with the Maori.
Flanker Nick Timoney and No.8 Gavin Coombes also crossed and flyhalf Ciaran Frawley contributed 10 points with the boot as the tourists largely contained the free-running Maori in a highly disciplined performance.
The Maori opened the scoring through Shaun Stevenson in the third minute and were awarded a penalty try just after half-time when Connor Garden-Bachop was tackled early.
Jordan Larmour of Ireland, left, is congratulated by teammates Cian Prendergast, centre, and Keith Earls. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The hosts scored the best try of the game 10 minutes from time when replacement back Ruben Love broke down the left flank and exchanged passes with Cullen Grace before touching down.
Another Love break in the closing seconds resulted in a try for replacement scrumhalf Brad Weber try but Larmour had already scored his second try two minutes from time to seal the victory.
The Test team take on the All Blacks on Saturday at the same Wellington Stadium, where victory would give them a 2-1 series win.
Boks make 11 changes
South Africa have returned to something resembling their first-choice selection for the series decider against Wales on Saturday, handing a 100th cap to lock Eben Etzebeth in Cape Town.
The Springboks have made 11 changes for the third Test, bringing back a number of Rugby World Cup winners after they were beaten 13-12 by the visitors in Bloemfontein at the weekend, a first ever home defeat by the Welsh.
That side had 14 changes from the first Test win as coach Jacques Nienaber tried to give his wider group of players a run, and he suggested afterwards it was the right call despite the defeat with one eye on their title defence at the World Cup in France next year.
Etzebeth will become the seventh Bok player to reach 100 caps as he forms a second row pairing with Lood de Jager. They will be behind props Trevor Nyakane and Frans Malherbe, and hooker Bongi Mbonambi.
The back row of the scrum sees captain Siya Kolisi return, with Pieter-Steph du Toit keeping his place and Jasper Wiese back in the mix.
Handre Pollard has been retained at flyhalf alongside rookie scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, who keeps Faf de Klerk on the bench.
Damian de Allende and Lukanyo Am make up the midfield pairing, with Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe on the wings, and Damian Willemse at fullback.
“We selected a team and player combinations that we think will be the best for this specific game,” Nienaber said in a media release from South African Rugby.
“We had an honest discussion with the players, telling them what we require from them this weekend and what we would like to see in terms of their performance and hopefully they can produce the goods and we can get the desired result.
“We have high standards as a team, and we would like to maintain that and build momentum with a challenging season lying ahead.”
The loss at the weekend meant the world champions slipped to No.3 in the latest rankings.
South Africa: Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Jaden Hendrikse, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Elrigh Louw, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux.
Huge blow for Cheika
Argentina have lost five more players to injury ahead of their decisive Test against Scotland on Saturday, including captain Julian Montoya.
The home team already had to do without their first choice halfback pairing of Tomas Cubelli and Nicolas Sanchez after both tore muscles in the first Test win over the Scots in San Salvador de Jujuy on July 2.
Now they must do without Montoya, Santiago Cordero, Domingo Miotti and Felipe Ezcurra, all hurt in last Saturday’s 29-6 second Test loss in Salta.
Benjamin Urdapilleta is also out after failing to recover from a leg injury, the Argentine Rugby Union said on Tuesday.
Hooker Santiago Socino, prop Eduardo Bello, wing Mateo Carreras and the uncapped pair of Tomas Albornoz and Eliseo Morales have been added to the squad as cover for Saturday’s third Test at Santiago del Estero.
Albornoz is a flyhalf with Italian club Treviso while Morales, a scrumhalf, has just returned from Argentina’s B team tour to Europe.
A new captain will only be announced when the line-up for the third Test is decided on Thursday by coach Michael Cheika, the former Wallabies mentor.
Jonty Shonty
Roar Pro
Remembered this comment when Siya got his carry in the game. Lol. Not sure that poor Welsh lad has touched back down yet.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Awesome atlas, hope that your daughters are doing well. I lived in Gippsland then moved to Mount Macedon before coming to Tasmania.
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
I love the names of the players in the RSA teams. So much more interesting than NZ/AU/ENG etc.. except for Luke Cowan-Dickie, now that's a good one :stoked:
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Mods gave in to NZ Mafia.
Atlas
Roar Rookie
My profile! Could update Born NZ have lived Perth, Sydney, one grandparents were Shepparton in NE Vic (no rugby there!), last 15yrs Asia. Daughters play volleyball it's the family sport.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
You have to be good enough to go the whole way. So I always find talk of who will face who in semis not as big a deal.
Dbellnz bell
Roar Rookie
NZ has beaten Ireland multiple times over history. 4 wins - as good as they are - are literally the only EVER wins. Argentina beat the ABs first time ever last year, Wales not since 1953, Scotland never. They're a team capable of beating anyone. To be great, Ireland needs to win the decider, or it all means nothing.
Dbellnz bell
Roar Rookie
Could be, but things never last that long. The U20's smashed Aussie recently so the pipeline is incredible (Aussie U20s are always incredible). In 1998 the ABs ost 5 tests in a row - that was the end of AB rugby, so many examples through history.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Do you honestly believe that the head of WR is going to 'instruct' the referees to 'target the Wallabies?' What planet do you live on?
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Cantly, I will give you my family history quickly. My mother’s parents were from Sweden, my fathers dad was from Scotland while his wife was Maori. My Grandma was was from Waikato’s biggest tribe, so I was brought up with Maori. I am proud of my family heritage of both sides, so when race is brought up it makes me angry. Especially when it is from someone outside of NZ thinking that they know more. NZ is about culture and not race like it was, and that was because Europeans did not understand the Maori culture. I am a proud Kiwi living in OZ, but respect their cultures and appreciate what this this country also offers everyone! No matter your Religion or Race.
NH Fan
Guest
Ireland v NZ is like the 4 minute mile it was beating them was the problem but once over the mental barrier it was easy to do again. When the 4min mile was broken others quickly also did it. Ireland have had a similar record to SA, Oz, Eng and Fra as they now have with NZ for years. Wales had a similar issue with Oz for ages under Gats. I think once NZ lost to Ireland it has been easier not just Ireland but other teams aswell to believe they could do it. Scotland last time only lost to NZ at home because they didn't believe. Once the aura is gone it goes for everyone. When Ireland players have 50% win rate against NZ it's hard to have an aura. Tuesday was also the first win Ireland have against the Maoris.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Atlas, I read your profile… Are you in OZ? Or somewhere else? Hurricanes are not a bad default team.. :stoked:
NH Fan
Guest
When you consider the other seeds you could of got where NZ SA or Eng, Wales by far the best result. Add in finishing top would most likely give you Arg in a 1/4 it is great as they may well be the weakest last 8. You could be poor Scotland who face 2 of the top 4 teams in the group and if they get through then another top 4 team awaits them in the 1/4. Get through that and the semis will seem ok
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Exactly atlas, plus we have had North vs South for AB trials. :thumbup: a few got confused thinking that is a NZ Representative team.
Atlas
Roar Rookie
I don’t know that there are small enough words, short enough sentences, that you would comprehend. Seriously, this would be like debating with a plank. The Maori All Blacks are not a national representative team. Test caps are not awarded for playing against them.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Paul, how is it someone not from NZ is trying to convince NZERS, that they do not know their own history? Oppressed and more I gather that he is feeling.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Poor response !
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I answered your question, try reading again.