Maori All Blacks vs Ireland

Ireland skipper Bundee Aki laid out an Irish jersey with the No 11 on the back as a tribute to Wainui, before the side he played 10 matches for performed a ...

A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. “He was an influential member in the teams he has been a part of, and his presence will be missed.

Follow all the latest updates as Ireland kick off their tour in New Zealand.

Big carry from Coombes gets over the line but he’s held up, back for another penalty. Gavin Coombes picks up from the base, drives his legs and burrows his way over the line. Cian Healy down on the field and looks in a lot of pain. Through the phases and another penalty won by the All Blacks. That’s a big blow for Ireland - potentially for the whole tour. But they then lose the ball as Ryan Baird knocks on from crash ball. Scrum won by the All Blacks and Ruben Love drops into pocket and calls for the drop goal. Maoris kick clear and Ireland will still have a lineout in the opposition half. This time they go for a scrum around eight metres from the line. Maoris pinged for playing the man in the air and Ireland have a penalty. Frawley goes for an aggressive touch, kicks it too far and it’s back for a Maori scrum. I know there is a three-game series coming up but these two Maori games for us and what we’re trying to build and how we’re trying to put people under pressure and see how they come through, that is just as important.”

The Māori All Blacks performed their haka with an image of Sean Wainui on the big screen above them after he died last year in a car accident.

The USA performed a similar tribute for Wainui as well during last year's end of year tour when they played the All Blacks in what was the first Test for the New Zealand side after his death. Wainui represented the Chiefs, Bay of Plenty and the Māori All Blacks and had previously played for Taranaki and the Crusaders as well. Wainui, who represented the Māori All Blacks before his death in 2021, was acknowledged by both sides on Wednesday evening before the match kicked off.

Live updates of the tour clash between Ireland and the Māori All Blacks. ‌. International Rugby. FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton. New Zealand Maori.

But there was little need to when they boasted the long-range threat that sparked their second try. Before long, they had again been turned around, and time began to tick away. That didn't last long, however, and the hosts soon showed they hardly needed a helping hand. But they also caused as many problems for themselves, regularly pushing the limit and being pinged for offside or made to play under penalty advantage. The Māori did display some brilliant attacking rugby, with Josh Ioane, Shaun Stevenson and Zarn Sullivan shining bright. The Māori thrived up front but were encountering an inexperienced Irish side whose forward pack had collected only 17 caps between them.

So the Irish start their tour with a loss, blown away largely by a phenomenal first half performance from the Maori All Blacks.

Ireland are in New Zealand looking for the most difficult challenges according to head coach Andy Farrell and they were no match for their first against the ...

They found it difficult to match the enthusiasm from the home side and had no answers when the Māori All Blacks’ generated quick ball. An untidy third quarter from the Māori will provide coach Clayton McMillan with his own food for thought. Centre James Hume also left the field injured.

The Māori All Blacks have built up a commanding 32-10 lead against Ireland at half time in their match in Hamilton this evening.

Sean Wainui died in October 2021 after a car crash.

The conclusion of the performance is met with a resounding applause from around the stands. They take formation in a V-shape, and the haka leader takes control again. The Maoris are seen in a huddle before their haka.

A dominant first-half display saw the Maori All Blacks secure a 32-17 victory over Ireland as their tour to New Zealand got under way.

Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am) Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am) Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm) Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am) It was just fun to be a part of man." and we will all learn from this game.

Ireland suffered a punishing 32-17 defeat by the Māori All Blacks in Hamilton as Andy Farrell fielded five uncapped players for the warm-up match.

Healy then departed with a serious-looking problem, leaving Farrell seemingly short at loosehead heading to the first Test at Eden Park. Loughman, who was forced off inside two minutes before initially returning following a head-injury assessment, was permanently replaced by Healy at the break. Ioane was becoming increasingly influential and, having added his second penalty of the match, twice converted after being heavily involved in scores for Shaun Stevenson and captain Brad Weber.

See how the Ireland players fared as their tour opens up with a loss to the Maori All Blacks.

Andy Farrell is now presented with a disaster situation with just one fit loosehead in the squad just days out from the first Test. Plenty of players asked to play out of position off the bench in a case of just plugging holes where possible. Ryan Baird busy without much impact, Mike Lowry asked to play out of position due to the Hume injury while Jack Conan got a few token seconds. Drew two defenders in the 10 channel to feed Aki for the first half score but more was needed from him carrying-wise in the first half. Offered more carrying in wide channels but slipped off a few attempted chop-tackles. Fared much better in the scrum against Maori replacement loosehead Tamaiti Williams. Tackle count low by his usual standards and more was needed from him in the carry. Took his own try well in recognising gap opened by Coombes Rating: 5 Lineout looked more secure with Niall Scannell in charge of darts. Some nice touches when running behind decoys but failed to take control of the game in the first half when his pack couldn’t hold onto the ball for more than five phases. Looked panicked at times when deciding if to jam in or stay put and marshal Stevenson. Also suffered from a lack of attacking ball in his channel. One good early break but not afforded the space to utilise his usually devastating footwork. Not asked to do a lot with ball in hand as Ireland often failed to get to width. Decent backfield coverage in the first half and had one good late angle through a soft shoulder.

So the Irish start their tour with a loss, blown away largely by a phenomenal first half performance from the Maori All Blacks. Despite less than ideal ...

It was not a good start for Ireland in their tour of New Zealand as they fell to the Maori All Blacks 32-17 at the FMG Stadium Waikato on...

Grew into the game and was gifted a bit more space in the second-half to show off his feet, but was part of a back three that were in disarray at points. Had a hand in both of Ireland’s tries, assisting Aki’s with a well timed pass and scoring the second himself. Did not damage his chances of playing against the All Blacks, but perhaps did not boost them either. Solid in the lineout and most other areas of the game. Went off within 90 seconds for an HIA and though he did return to the field, he was replaced by Cian Healy at half-time. Leinster’s Frawley was never really able to grab hold of the game the way he would have liked, which was partly down to the conditions. Was quieter in the second-half, but stood up when it counted. Timoney’s carrying suited the way Farrell wants Ireland to play. Saw a lot of action in the first-half defensively as the Maori All Blacks frequently attacked down his left wing. Andy Farrell’s men were able to claw back a 32-10 half-time deficit to win the second-half, but an ill-disciplined opening 40 minutes did all the damage as the visitors looked disorganised and were tactically naive. Kicking did improve in the second-half. A deft attacking attacking kick early on almost resulted in a try for Jordan Larmour, but he was guilty of a number of loose kicks in the first-half which led to a 50:22 and a counter attack try.

Who were the best performers for the Maori All Blacks in their victory over Ireland on Wednesday evening?

On in 50th minute. On in 50th minute. On in 62nd minute. Was safe as houses under the high ball and looked to challenge Ireland on the counter-attack. 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. Made his tackles but his hands let him down on occasion, and struggled to assert any dominance in the midfield. 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. Off in 62nd minute. Perhaps overshadowed by some of his teammates in the backline but generally went about his business with accuracy and impetus. Busy on defence and was ambitious with his carries, although wasn’t always able to generate much in the way of go-forward. Looked good roaming in the wider channels, throwing one audacious offload, but struggled to assert himself when the defence was pressing hard. A strong presence on both sides of the ball, playing his way into the national selection frame.