Sunday Star-Times

PLAYER RATINGS

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James Lowe 5: Slammed his first kick out on the full and shelled a second half bomb, but made a crucial try-saving tackle on Conor Murray. Nehe Milner-Skudder 7: Confident enough after his recent injury battles. Deft little kick led to Liam Messam’s try. Starved of ball thereafter. Matt Proctor 6: Tenacious in the tackle; sad to see his night end early with a shoulder injury after collision with Leigh Halfpenny. Charlie Ngatai 6: The Chiefs stalwart defended doggedly but wouldn’t be happy with the Lions’ midfield line breaks. Rieko Ioane 5: Nervous start by the test tyro, shelling a Conor Murray kick. No chance on attack but no threat yet to Julian Savea’s test jersey yet. Damian McKenzie 5: Goalkickin­g was good, but field kicking patchy. The Lions’ line speed gave him little space to strut his stuff on attack. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 5: His pass lacked its usual crispness, mad charge through a ruck to cough up a penalty and sinbinned for a no-arms tackle. Liam Messam 6: The Maori team’s Koro nailed the game’s first try with some soccer skills on the slick surface. Worked hard at the breakdown in a beaten pack. Elliot Dixon 6: Not a natural opensider, but brave enough. Top tackle to force turnover from Taulupe Faletau. Akira Ioane 8: The tough backrower hit hard but hardly got the ball in hand due to the Lions’ dominance. The Maori’s best. Tom Franklin 6: Sound at the lineout and saved a try with a goalline block on big Jamie George. Joe Wheeler 5: Another buried in the tight and rarely sighted in open play. Ben May 6: Solid enough on his side of the scrum and played plenty of minutes. Ash Dixon 6: Led a spine-chilling haka with aplomb and tried gamely, but lacked the size to make an impact against the British and Irish behemoths. Kane Hames 5: Committed at the cleanout but lucky not to get a yellow card before buckling in the scrum that led to the penalty try. Monstered by Lions tighthead Tadhg Furlong. RESERVES Chris Eves 5: Replacemen­t loosehead prop got a turnover to stop the Lions in their tracks. Marcel Renata 5: Only got 10 minutes but made big tackle on Kyle Sinckler. Rob Thompson 6: Replaced an injured Proctor, made one timely turnover tackle, but hardly had the ball in his mitts. NOT RATED: Hika Elliot, Leighton Price, Kara Pryor, Bryn Hall, Ihaia West. - TONY SMITH

 ??  ?? Charlie Ngatai showed some nice touches but was starved of ball.
Charlie Ngatai showed some nice touches but was starved of ball.
 ??  ?? Liam Messam tried hard all night and got the Maori’s only try.
Liam Messam tried hard all night and got the Maori’s only try.
 ??  ?? Damian McKenzie struggled at No 10 against the rush defence.
Damian McKenzie struggled at No 10 against the rush defence.
 ??  ??

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