Ireland vs Maori All Blacks LIVE rugby: Latest updates from tour match as Keith Earls captains Ireland
For the second time on Ireland’s tour of New Zealand this summer, they will face the Maori All Blacks in an uncapped international – with the contest taking place at Sky Stadium in Wellington this morning.
The first contest a fortnight ago saw the Maoris emerge as 32-17 victors in Hamilton thanks to a scintillating display of running rugby and Ireland coach Andy Farrell will be eager for a measure of revenge to keep momentum rolling ahead of the Test series decider on Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, the starting XV is completely different to the side that played from the off in the historic victory over New Zealand at the weekend with lock Kieran Treadwell – who came off the bench as a late replacement in that 23-12 triumph – the only starter against the Maoris to feature at all. Keith Earls captains his country for the first time in his 97-cap international career.
Ireland’s first-choice squad are being rested but with 12 of the same starting line-up as the previous defeat to the Maoris, Farrell expects his players to be fired up: “These guys have had to wait for another chance and they’re busting for that,” he said. “The Maori beat us on the night and thoroughly deserved that, so it’s a chance to show how much they’ve improved. They’ve had time to learn all those lessons, be more disciplined, be more accurate and understand what it takes to win a big game.”
Follow all the action from the uncapped international in Wellington with our live blog:
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4’ – Maori All Blacks 5-0 Ireland – MISSED CONVERSION
Tricky touchline conversion and Josh Ioane can’t land it in this swirling wind. A poor start for Ireland but ideal for the All Blacks.
3’ – Maori All Blacks 5-0 Ireland – TRY STEVENSON!
Maori win a penalty for Ireland being offside and they kick to the corner. Driving maul incoming or a move off the back.
The latter. First-phase ball is fed left and they simply take advantage of the overlap, drawing men and Shaun Stevenson scoots round the outside for the score. Pretty dismal drift defence from Ireland.
KICK-OFF! Maori All Blacks 0-0 Ireland
Underway in Wellington and an inauspicious start for Ireland as they knock-on straight from the kick-off. The Maori quickly win a free-kick from the scrum.
Tap and go and they’re into the 22 already!
Maori All Blacks vs Ireland
It has been pelting it down in Wellington all day, so conditions are wet and slick. Holding on to the ball could be an issue.
The haka is done – kick-off imminent now.
Players to watch
Just a few minutes until kick-off at Sky Stadium. So who should you be looking out for on the Irish side?
It was a disjointed performance in the tour opener by Ireland when they lost to the Maori but Munster No 8 Gavin Coombes was impressive and bagged himself a deserved try.
The half-back pairing of Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley frankly looked slightly out of their depth, Frawley especially, so it will be worth keeping an eye on any improvement there.
Ulster youngster Michael Lowry is electric and will be looking to prove a point from full-back after scoring twice and assisting another try on his international debut against Italy in this year’s Six Nations
Maori All Blacks head coach Clayton McMillan discusses the game
Maori All Blacks head coach Clayton McMillan has laid out his expectation from his team.
The Maori have made changes to the team that won last time out, with Max Hicks, Josh Moorby and Caleb Delany all making debuts to follow up the nine first-timers in the opening contest.
“The first match was really special, with nine debutants up against Ireland and this week the remaining three debutant players get that same opportunity to represent not only the team but their whānau and their iwi,” said McMillan. “The team are excited to take the field and showcase Māori rugby in front of our Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) whānau.”
“We are anticipating Ireland to come back strong, we have learnt a lot from that first match in Hamilton as I am sure they have too.”
Andy Farrell talks about what he expects from his team
Andy Farrell knows his midweek team will be champing at the bit to put in a improved performance from the 32-17 defeat to open the tour.
“These guys have had to wait for another chance and they’re busting for that,” said Farrell. “The Maori beat us on the night and thoroughly deserved that, so it’s a chance to show how much they’ve improved.
“When you put two or three kids into a good side, say the Test side, everyone gets dragged along but when you put a lot of inexperienced players together, then cohesion is very hard to come by.
“Look, they have had two weeks to learn those lessons, be more disciplined, and to make sure they understand what it takes to win a big game. This certainly is big for them.”
Andy Farrell discusses selection of Keith Earls as captain
After 97 caps for Ireland, Keith Earls will captain his country for the first time today. But head coach Andy Farrell has no qualms about handing him the armband.
“Keith’s standing and status within the group are of the highest order so that’s an easy one. There’s no more deserving of a man to captain Ireland against the Māoris,” said Farrell.
“It gave me a lot of pleasure asking him to do it. He’s a proud man and he’s really looking forward to it. Keith played in the first Māori game and then he backed up (for the first Test), which is tough to do in a Test match, and scored a try.
“He didn’t play in the second Test obviously but the likes of him, Jack Conan, everyone to be honest, Conor (Murray), etc., their attitude has been absolutely top class.
“There’s only been one thing on their minds and that’s how can they help the team-mates that are probably playing in front of them better.”
Ireland vs Maori All Blacks team news
Andy Farrell has changed the entire starting XV that beat New Zealand in the second Test at the weekend as he rests players for the decider but there are only three changes from the first fixture between these two sides a fortnight ago.
Those three alterations see Niall Scannell replace injured hooker Dave Heffernan, Stuart McCloskey come in for Bundee Aki at inside centre and Michael Lowry start at full-back – pushing Jimmy O’Brien out to the left wing, which in turns nudges Keith Earls into the No 13 jersey as a replacement for James Hume who suffered a tour-ending injury in the first game. Earls also captains the side from outside centre.
Lock Kieran Treadwell – who came off the bench as a late replacement in the 23-12 second Test triumph – is the only starter against the Maoris who featured at all on Saturday.
Ireland: Michael Lowry; Jordan Larmour, Keith Earls (captain), Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien; Ciaran Frawley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Tom O’Toole, Joe McCarthy, Kieran Treadwell, Cian Prendergast, Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Mack Hansen.
Maori All Blacks: Josh Moorby; Shaun Stevenson, Bailyn Sullivan, Alex Nankivell, Connor Garden-Bachop; Josh Ioane, TJ Perenara (co-capt); Ollie Norris, Kurt Eklund, Tyrel Lomax; Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Isaia Walker-Leawere; Reed Prinsep, Billy Harmon, Cullen Grace.
Replacements: Leni Apisai, Tamaiti Williams, Marcel Renata, Max Hicks, Caleb Delany, Brad Weber (co-capt), Ruben Love, Billy Proctor
Ireland punished by Maori All Blacks as experimental side lose tour opener
Here’s a reminder of what happened in the first fixture between these two sides a fortnight ago to open the tour.
Ireland suffered a punishing start to their tour of New Zealand after an experimental side were dismantled by the dominant Maori All Blacks in Hamilton.
Andy Farrell fielded five uncapped players for the warm-up match and was left with plenty to ponder following a resounding 32-17 defeat.
Zarn Sullivan and Josh Ioane starred for the masterly Maoris, who ran in four first-half tries, while scores from stand-in skipper Bundee Aki and Gavin Coombes were scant consolation for the Irish.
Head coach Farrell will quickly turn his attention to Saturday’s opening Test of a three-match series with the formidable All Blacks in Auckland, where he will field a much-changed team and hope for a much-improved showing.
Few, if any, of his fringe players emerged with much credit from a cool, wet evening at FMG Stadium Waikato.
Ireland punished by Maori All Blacks as experimental side lose tour opener
Maori All Balcks 32-17 Ireland: Kiwi-born Bundee Aki captained Ireland for the first time but his try couldn’t prevent a resounding defeat
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