First-half blitz spurs Ma¯ori
The Ma¯ ori All Blacks have added another international scalp to their impressive collection, outclassing Ireland in their tour opener in Hamilton last night.
Gazes are all fixed to the first test at Eden Park on Saturday, but the Ma¯ ori took their chance to land an early psychological blow on the tourists, surging to a 32-17 victory at a slippery FMG Stadium Waikato.
In front of a crowd of 9253, the Ma¯ ori prevailed in a five-tries-totwo display.
All the points bar one of Ireland’s converted tries came in the first half, in a match which mixed stop-start sloppy play with sublime attacks from the Ma¯ ori, who went on a 24-unansweredpoint surge late in the first spell.
Fullback Zarn Sullivan was superb on debut, marking a special night when brother Bailyn came off the bench for the sibling’s firstever game of footy together, while first-five Josh Ioane showed his class and winger Shaun Stevenson was back to his electric best.
Up front, loose forwards trio Cameron Suafoa, Billy Harmom and Cullen Grace were brutal and skilful, as Ireland paid the price for ill-discipline.
There was a poignant prematch tribute to the late Sean Wainui, who had represented the Ma¯ori All Blacks last year just months before his death.
Captain Bundee Aki lay a No 11 Ireland jersey on halfway and, following a stirring rendition of their Te Tı¯matanga haka, led by nonplaying halfback Sam Nock, the Ma¯ ori stood in their formation as Wainui’s wife and two children came onto the field to collect it.
Under what were initially drizzly skies, it was a stop-start opening quarter, as neither side were capable of stringing many phases together. Under drier skies
it was similar in the second stanza. In between, there was flair aplenty from the Ma¯ ori.
After being the architect of an early all-in scuffle, it was Sullivan who again turned up the temperature. The young Blues fullback
carved off a superb 50-22, then after Ioane and Harmon combined nicely, also got the eventual spoils.
Ireland restored their lead just a few minutes later, when No 8 Gavin Coombes’ lovely short ball saw Aki go on a 20-metre stampede.
After Ioane missed a penalty from out in front, it looked like the tide may well have turned.
Oh, how wrong that was. Ioane soon slotted a tougher shot at goal and the Ma¯ ori piled on three tries
in the final dozen minutes of the half for a 32-10 halftime advantage.
In between co-captain Brad Weber darting over to punish the Irish getting blown backwards at a scrum and free-kicked for closing a lineout gap, there were absolute stunners to Stevenson and Grace.
Again it was Sullivan sparking things. His brilliant high-ball take then led to Suafoa sending a beautiful crisp ball for Ioane on the break, and he put away Chiefs team-mate Stevenson, on a ground just a couple of months ago he had gone down on with what looked a season-ending injury.
It was that man Stevenson right amongst it for the next beauty, too, he and Sullivan surviving a mixup at the back before gliding his way upfield and passing to Harmon, who intelligently opted to use his leg before his hands, and feed inside for Crusaders star Grace.