First-half blitz spurs Māori Ata glance
The Māori All Blacks added another international scalp to their impressive collection, outclassing Ireland 32-17 in Hamilton last night.
Gazes are all fixed to the first test at Eden Park on Saturday in this highly-anticipated tour, but the Mā ori took their chance to land an early psychological blow on the tourists, surging to victory at a slippery FMG Stadium Waikato.
There was a poignant prematch tribute to the late Sean Wainui, who had represented the Māori All Blacks last year just months before his death.
Bundee Aki lay a No 11 Ireland jersey on halfway and, following a stirring rendition of their Te Tīmatanga haka, led by nonplaying halfback Sam Nock, the Mā ori stood in their formation as Wainui’s wife and two children came onto the field to collect it.
Under what were drizzly skies, it was a stop-start opening quarter, as neither side were capable of stringing many phases together.
But after being the architect of an early all-in scuffle, it was Shaun Sullivan who again turned up the temperature, this time setting the game alight.
With his well-regarded raking left boot, the young Blues fullback carved off a superb 50-22, then after Josh Ioane and Billy Harmon combined nicely, also got the eventual spoils – huge pukana celebration to boot.
Ireland restored their lead just a few minutes later, though, when No 8 Gavin Coombes’ lovely short ball saw Aki go on a 20-metre stampede, sliding over a tryline not too unfamiliar to him from his days with the Chiefs.
After Ioane missed a penalty shot from out in front, it looked like the tide may have turned.
Oh how wrong that was. Ioane soon slotted a tougher shot at goal and the Mā ori piled on three tries in the final dozen minutes of the half for 24 unanswered points and a bulky 32-10 halftime advantage.
In between 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 Shaun Stevenson and Cullen Grace. Again it was Sullivan sparking things. His brilliant highball take then led to Cam Suafoa sending a 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 Billy Harmon, who opted to use his leg before his hands, and feed inside for Crusaders star Grace.
At FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton: Mā ori All Blacks 32 (Zarn Sullivan try 17min, Shaun Stevenson try 29min, Brad Weber try 35min, Cullen Grace try 40+1min; Josh Ioane 3 con, 2 pen) Ireland 17 (Bundee Aki try 21min, Gavin Coombes try 67min; Ciaran Frawley 2 con, pen). HT: 32-10.