Well, it was Tonga who played Wales 1st in the Pasifika Challenge but the Welsh proved them too strong against the Tongans at the end, outperforming them 24 - 6 in the curtain raiser...but it is time for the main event as the All Blacks play our 1st test match of the year by taking on Samoa at Eden Park (Which will host 3 test matches this year including that one against Samoa & 2 against the British & Irish Lions) in Auckland so here's the live commentary taken from Newshub:
Hello & welcome to live updates of the All Blacks hosting Manu Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland.
A venue the world champions haven't lost at since 1994 against France; Jonah Lomu's 2nd Test match.
We bring you live streaming written commentary & all the action.
Commentary will start from around 7:50 pm (NZT), with kick-off set for 8pm (NZT).
Lineups
All Blacks
1.Joe Moody, 2.Codie Taylor, 3.Owen Franks, 4.Brodie Retallick, 5.Sam Whitelock, 6.Jerome Kaino, 7.Sam Cane, 8.Ardie Savea, 9.Aaron Smith, 10.Beauden Barrett, 11.Julian Savea, 12.Sonny Bill Williams, 13.Anton Lienert-Brown, 14.Israel Dagg, 15.Ben Smith
Reserves: 16.Nathan Harris, 17.Wyatt Crockett, 18.Charlie Faumuina, 19.Scott Barrett, 20.Vaea Fifita, 21.TJ Perenara, 22.Lima Sopoaga,23. Jordie Barrett.
Manu Samoa
1.Viliamu Afatia, 2.Maatulimanu Leiataua, 3.Census Johnston, 4.Chris Vui, 5.Faatiga Lemalu, 6.Piula Faasalele, 7.Fa'alemiga Selesele, 8.Faifili Levave, 9.Kahn Fotuali'i, 10.Tusiati Pisi, 11.Tim Nanai Williams, 12.Alapati Leiua, 13.Keiron Fonotia, 14.Albert Nikoro, 15.Ah See Tuala.
Substitutes: 16.Seilala Lam, 17.Nephi Leatigaga, 18.Paul Alo-Emile, 19.Taiasina Tuifua, 20.Alafoti Faosiliva, 21.Auvasa Falealii, 22.D'Angelo Leiula, 23.Ken Pisi.
Match officials
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistants: Rohan Hoffman (Australia) & Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO : Ian Smith (Australia)
7.43pm: Hello all, thanks for your company – I hope you enjoy the coverage….Conditions update: Bit of rain about but the ground should hold up – it's been very cold in the city of sails today as well. – the rain set in big time at the end of the Wales v Tonga match a half-hour ago which was won by the Red Dragons 24-6.
7.51pm: Players making their way onto Eden Park for the anthems and the Haka/War dance. Reminder, the ABs haven't lost at Eden Park in 36 matches.
7.53pm: Stadium just a tad over half-full I would guess. With three Lions games at Eden Park there are a few options for Aucklanders seeking a rugby hit...good Samoan representation though...
7.54pm: I would say that the Samoan national anthem would be my second favourite foreign ballad behind the Welsh one.
7.58pm: Tears in the eyes of Jordie Barrett during the anthem..goosebump moment….Ben Smith to lead the Haka.
7.59pm: The Samoans start us off with the Siva Tau...chills folks...and here goes the ABs..Ben Smith at the front of the 'Flying V' but TJ Perenara will lead the boys in the NZ reply
8.01pm: For all you Crusaders fans..your old mate from France is the referee tonight :)
KICK-OFF: Tusi Pisi gets the game underway deep into the ABs half..Aaron Smith clears and we have a Samoan lineout on the All Blacks 10-metre line.
2 MINUTES LATER: Samoa making good progress into All Black territory – we are at 11 phases - they are just outside the ABs 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Manu Samoa get within 2m of the tryline – the referee has halted play looking at potential foul play from one of the Samoan player…a neck roll.
1 MINUTE LATER: Faifili Levave gets pinned for the neck roll back on the 22 – that was weird I have to say..what if it wasn't a penalty? Samoa were hot on attack when the TMO called play back. Lineout ABs on halfway.
1 MINUTE LATER: Huge tackle on Beauden by Alapati Leiua in midfield, knock on against the Hurricanes pivot. Scrum Samoa on halfway.
2 MINUTES LATER: The All Blacks looking to shift the ball inside their own 22 – eventually Aaron Smith clears and the team exchange in a bit of force-back which is won by the visitors. Excellent kick from Nanai-Williams. Lineout ABs on their own 22.
2 MINUTES LATER: All Blacks go on attack in the Samoan half after a wayward lineout throw. Playing under advantage here for offside – a few big hits coming in from Manu Samoa – Penalty is awarded and Ben Smith asks Beauden to kick to the corner. Lineout ABs 5m out.
2 MINUTES LATER: Another ABs penalty – this time for collapsing the maul. Ben Smith opts for the scrum; 5m out.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ANTON LIENERT-BROWN: Ardie Savea looked to have knocked the ball on at the scrum but the referee missed it. 2 phases and Barrrett takes on the line – gets hammered but gets an offload away to the Chiefs centre who scores the easiest try of his life. Beauden adds the extras.
3 MINUTES LATER: The All Blacks work the ball up the park nicely – but the Samoan defence is brutal..at sixth phase and we get a penalty for Samoa – holding on at the ruck from Retallick. Albert Nikoro with a shot at three from just inside is half.
1 MINUTE LATER: Nikoro just misses what would have been a monster kick and the ABs look to play the ball out from their own half - keeping possesion nicely here and the earn a penalty which Smith takes quickly. Samoa turn the ball over at the ruck and now they go on attack - penalty Samoa just inside their own half - Joe Moody with hands in the ruck - Phew!
3 MINUTES LATER: On a side note - Ardie Savea clearly knocked the ball on at the scrum base in the ABs try-scoring movement.
1 MINUTE LATER: Beauden Barrett just proved he is human - punting the ball out on the full from just outside his 22. Lineout Samoa.
1 MINUTE LATER: Samoa rucking the ball well just outside the All Blacks 22 – Pisi with a terrible chip kick that Dagg collects with ease and he smashes the ball deep into Samoan territory but Ah See Tuala replies with a beaut of his own and it's a lineout for the AB's on their own 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Nanai-Williams carves the ABs up through the middle of the park – made SBW look pretty foolish but Alapati Leiua can't draw and pass and throws the ball out on the full….big chance there for the Samoans. Should have scored.
1 MINUTE LATER: Penalty midfield and halfway for Samoa – Sam Cane pinned for killing the ball at ruck time – the visitors opt for another shot at goal. Nikoro steps up again.
1 MINUTE LATER: Nikoro crushes it but it's just wide and Dagg bangs it down into the Samoan 22 - who reply with a nice touch finder from Pisi.
3 MINUTES LATER: Another midfield penalty from the visitors in the same spot as before – Barrett holding on at the ruck – looks like my old mate Albert has been put on the back burner – Pisi kicks for touch and Samoa have a lineout on the ABs 10m line. Not a great kick there.
1 MINUTE LATER: Alapati Leiua ghosts through the All Blacks midfield but he can't link up. Huge chance outwide for Samoa – 5 on 2 but hooker Maatulimanu Leiataua squanders the chance and goes himself. Samoa hot on attack still but it's turned over and here go the ABs.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, BEAUDEN BARRETT: End to end – Lienert-Brown picked the ball up in space – got the ball away to Ben Smith who gassed it – SBW gets the offload and he in turn gets a sand shoe crusher away to Barrett who toes it ahead, regathers and scores. Wow! And he adds the extras..Bet Marshy was given it the old Go Beauden!
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ARDIE SAVEA: Set piece at its best. Brilliant – Lineout off the top – Barrett ghosts through a small gap – gets the ball away to Lienert-brown who draws the fullback and Savea goes in untouched from 30m. Awesome to watch. Barrett adds the 2.
4 MINUTES LATER: Try goes begging for the ABs – moving the ball beautifully through the backline. SBW with a little grubber that Retallick collects – he offloads to Dagg who flings it back infield but Retallick can't re-gather, knocks it on and we have a defensive scrum for the visitors.
3 MINUTES LATER: Penalty All Blacks 5m out for hands in the ruck – Ben Smith says 'Scrum please'. Danger time for Manu Samoa here.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, SONNY BILL WILLIAMS: Another set-move. Smith from the scrum base – draws a tackler, gets the ball away to Barrett who puts SBW in under the posts. Nice. Barrett adds the two and that's halftime. Be back here live in 10 minutes.
HALFTIME: All Blacks lead Samoa 28-0
SECOND-HALF: Beauden Barrett will get us underway for he second 40.....Samoa added so much to the first-half -- but you can't make mistakes against the world champions.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ISRAEL DAGG: Take a bow Anton Lienert-Brown who draws in three players with magnificent hesitation – very short blindside to work with and with no-one to beat, Dagg is the benefactor of Lienert-Browns brilliance. Barrett is on target tonight. 35-0 ABs
1 MINUTE LATER: The legend that is Grant Nisbett just informed us that Barrett is 12 from 12 in his last three-Tests with the boot.
2 MINUTES LATER: Samoa trying to just hold onto the ball for a bit after the barrage of the last 15 mins or so. Have moved the ball nicely up field and earn a penalty just inside halfway. Sam Cane offside at the ruck. Pisi finds touch 30m out.
3 MINUTES LATER: Samoa going backwards at a fast rate – but a head-high tackle from Retallick earns them a reprieve. Lineout Samoa on the ABs 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Samoa rucking the ball well – some big hits coming in from All Black defenders. Samoa shift the ball outwide – Barrett for the intercept but he has knocked it on. Scrum 25m out for Samoa.
2 MINUTES LATER: Turnover from Codie Taylor and Whitelock head off upfield but his passed is spilled by the following up Taylor but it's a penalty on the 22 for the ABs for holding on at ruck time. Scott Barrett, Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina are on the park for the hosts now.
3 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, JULIAN SAVEA: Clinical play from the world champions. Well that was a team try if I have ever seen one. Retallick makes a nice 20m break down the touchline but he can't get his pass away – the ABs play through five phases with the whole forward pack playing part – Smith clears from the ruck and goes through the hands of the back – eventually makes its way out to the 'Bus' who goes over in the corner. Barrett can't add the extras.
2 MINUTES LATER: Scott Barrett with a sweet offload to Beauden who kicks ahead - Ah See Tuala cleans up well but the All Blacks win the ball – Aaron Smith flings the ball outwide but the pass is too high for Lienart-Brown. Lineout Samoa on their own 5m line.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, CODIE TAYLOR: Ben Smith brilliance opens up the visitors.Quick lineout throw from Julian Savea – Ben Smith collects and bursts through would be defenders – offload to Taylor who strolls over under the posts – Barrett adds the two. Vaea Fifita on for his debut Test replacing Jerome Kaino.
1 MINUTE LATER: TJ Perenara is also on for Aaron Smith - Lima Sopoaga will be on shortly aswell.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, BEAUDEN BARRETT: SBW offload strikes again. SBW creates havoc with a wonderful offload in the midfield – Lienert-Brown collects and he sends Beauden away into the corner. He converts and Sopoaga will replace him.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, VAEA FIFITA: Quick hands from the ABs with Ben Smith and SBW in the action again – Smith out to Dagg who draws' and passes' on the fullback and it's the debutant who scores. Great stuff and the Lions must be watching this interplay between forwards and back and quite frankly shivering with fear. Lima adds the two…Jordie Barrett on for his debut. Ben Smith makes way - Brodie Retallick is the new skipper!!
4 MINUTES LATER: Penalty relief for Manu Samoa. All Blacks on attack again but Sam Cane is pinged for holding on at the ruck. Lineout Samoa on halfway.
1 MINUTE LATER, POINT OF INTEREST: SBW and ALB look phenomenal as a midfield pair – SBW started slowly but has come into the game well and ALB is the find of the last 12 months for the national side.
4 MINUTES LATER: Game getting a little messy now – always amazes me how this happens when the changes are rung. All Blacks looking to shift the ball again from inside their own 22.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, TJ PERENARA: Brilliant back play again – Peranara ends up with ball on halfway after Sopaoga made a wonderful break from inside his own half. TJ runs away from the defenders to score in the corner Lima can't add the 2.
3 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ARDIE SAVEA: All Black magic folks. Brilliant again. Jordie Barrett sneaks away down the blindside – gets the ball away to Juliian Savea who gets a wonderful pass away to TJ whom pops a cheeky kick over the fullback and Ardie Savea collects and scores. Lima adds the 2.
3 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, SAM CANE: I am literally in awe. Take the opposition out of this for a sec. This was just magnificent. Barrett collects his own up and under – wonderful play, gets the ball away from a storming Retallick – the ball goes out through the backline – Lienert-Brown bursts through the last line of defence and unselfishly passes to Cane who scores. Conversion no good.
2 MINUTES LATER: I don't really know what happened as I was still writing! I looked up and Perenara was in the clear again and he gets the ball away to Sopoaga who scores. SBW plays his part again..Wait it's been ruled no try by the TMO! SBW's pass to TJ is ruled forward. Guts.
That's it folks - I couldn't keep up in the last few minutes. Lost track of the score too, but I can confirm it was 78-0. Just brilliant second 40 from the ABs - Manu Samoa just outclassed tonight after starting strong. Thanks for dropping by tonight.
All Blacks 78 - Samoa 0
And what do I think of the game? Well, no need to worry about as the All Blacks have managed to keep the opponent scoreless for the 1st time since 2013 against France at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
And I will be doing a review tomorrow of the Maori All Blacks-British & Irish Lions clash which takes place tonight at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua.
So that is my 117th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII).
P.S. And I have 3 Asian friends such as Lim (Who hails from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia), Sophie (The Malaysian Princess from Penang) & Viluz the Filipino (Murray Gray's partner).
And in other rugby news, Fiji have comfortably beaten the Italians with a match winning drop goal scored by Rebels first five-eighth Ben Volavola because it was shades of Mitch Hunt for the Crusaders against the Highlanders a couple of weeks ago then Scotland upset the Wallabies by 5 points at Allianz Stadium in Sydney to register their 1st win since 2012 because it was their 2nd win for the Scottish under new coach Gregor Townsend then the Springboks run riot over the French at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban to clinch the 3 match test series & of course, England go 2 in a row against Argentina with a late try by Will Collier to seal the series.
And the British & Irish Lions return to winning ways again (Although they have never won a mid week game this year because they both lost to the Blues & Highlanders), this time against the might of the Maori All Blacks to seek revenge/utu since their defeat way back in 2005 so here's the live commentary of the match from Newshub again:
Hello and welcome to live updates of the New Zealand Maori hosting the British and Irish Lions at Rotorua International stadium in the Bay of Plenty.
We bring you live streaming written commentary of all the action as it happens.
Commentary will start from around 7:20 pm (NZT).
Lineups:
New Zealand Maori
15.James Lowe, 14.Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13.Matt Proctor, 12.Charlie Ngatai, 11.Rieko Ioane, 10.Damian McKenzie, 9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8.Liam Messam, 7.Elliot Dixon, 6.Akira Ioane, 5.Tom Franklin, 4.Joe Wheeler, 3.Ben May, 2.Ash Dixon (capt), 1.Kane Hames.
Reserves: 16.Hikawera Elliot, 17.Chris Eves, 18.Marcel Renata, 19.Leighton Price, 20.Kara Pryor, 21.Bryn Hall, 22.Ihaia West, 23.Rob Thompson.
British & Irish Lions
15.Leigh Halfpenny, 14.Anthony Watson, 13.Jonathan Davies, 12.Ben Te'o, 11.George North, 10.Johnny Sexton, 9.Conor Murray, 8.Taulupe Faletau, 7.Sean O'Brien, 6.Peter O'Mahony (c), 5.George Kruis, 4.Maro Itoje, 3.Tadhg Furlong, 2.Jamie George, 1.Mako Vunipola.
Reserves: 16.Ken Owens, 17.Jack McGrath, 18.Kyle Sinckler, 19.Iain Henderson, 20.Sam Warburton, 21.Greig Laidlaw, 22.Owen Farrell, 23.Elliot Daly.
Match facts and stats
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistants: Jerome Garces and Romain Poite
TMO: Ian Smith
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 8, NZ Maori 1, B&I Lions 7, drawn 0
Last time played: NZ Maori 19 def B&I Lions 13, June 11, 2005
7.21pm: Thanks for joining me tonight – should be a cracker of a game…..News just in – Scotland has beaten the Wallabies 24-19 in Sydney.
7.24pm: Conditions are okay in Roto-Vegas tonight – a bit of a dew around as they say. I would expect a pretty tight gameplan from the visitors – and the complete opposite from the homeside.
7.27pm: No late changes in either side – although sad news for Lions backrower Ross Moriarty, he is out of the tour with injury. Gatland has called in four Welsh players and two Scots as additions to the squad for the rest of the tour.
7.33pm: Rotorua pumping out their collective pipes as one for God Defend New Zealand. Nice. Looks like some rain might be setting in.
7.35pm: Hika Elliot leading a spine-tingling Haka from the New Zealand side. Just awesome with the mist setting in as a backdrop.
7.37pm: Okay that was the best Haka I have ever seen in my life – amazing!
Kick-off – Johnny Sexton gets the game underway with a kick deep into Maori territory. TKB clears for the hosts.
2 MINUTES LATER: Early mistake from James Lowe – kick out on the full and the Lions go on attack inside the Maori half – shifting the ball well to start with – Maori defence holding up form however. Good start from the Lions as we hit 12 phases.
2 MINUTES LATER: 17th phase and referee Peyper awards a penalty to the Lions for a ruck infringement. Great ball control from the Lions. Halfpenny will have a shot at goal from a handy spot. Messam was the player penalised.
1 MINUTE LATER, PENALTY GOAL LIONS: Halfpenny makes no mistake – deserved lead after a positive start.
1 MINUTE LATER: Messy start from the Maori side, Tom Franklin knocks on a high kick from Halfpenny and the Lions have a scrum midfield on halfway.
1 MINUTE LATER: Great tackle by TKB in the midfield – crushed Geroge North. Turnover for the NZM but Lowe is bundled out over the touchline.
1 MINUTE LATER: Halfpenny will have another shot here – great box kick from Conor Murray – The NZM are penalised for diving in at ruck time.
1 MINUTE LATER, PENALTY GOAL LIONS: Leigh Halfpenny makes no mistake from another handy angle
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY MAORI ALL BLACKS, LIAM MESSAM: The Maori take a quick lineout throw through Milner-Skudder – 2 phases in and it comes back out to NMS who dabs a little grubber through – George North makes a mess of it, toed through by Messam who collects and scores. Poor from North. Mckenzie (The Smiling Assasian) nails the extra two.
4 MINUTES LATER: Lineout for the NZM on the Lions 10m line but Wheeler knocks the ball on and the Lions clear well but its swallowed up by Reiko Ioane. Wipers kick from McKenzie finds Halfpenny and he fires it back to James Lowe. Kickathon right now – TMO looking at potential foul play on the run by one of the Lions players on James Lowe while play is live. Lions on attack here and Davis busts through. Lions 2m out. Good cover defence by Milner-Skudder.
2 MINUTES LATER: Penalty for the Lions – Multiple Maori players offside at the ruck. The TMO is happy with the tackle on Lowe from before.
2 MINUTES LATER, PENALTY GOAL LIONS: Leigh Halfpenny makes no mistake from pretty much in front – Lions back in front.
2 MINUTES LATER: Vunipola gives away a fairly needless penalty with a little bit of 'Hows your father' at the ruck. D-Mac will have a shot at 3.
2 MINUTES LATER, PENALTY GOAL MAORI ALL BLACKS: McKenzie nails it. Maori ABs back in front.
1 MINUTE LATER: Jonathan Davies makes his second break of the evening but he loses the ball in contact on the Maori 22. Lucky escape there for the hosts. Scrum for the Maori – will look for a good exit lay here to relieve the pressure.
1 MINUTE LATER: Play held up due to a couple of injuries to prop forwards.
1 MINUTE LATER: Great touch finder from Sexton – Mackenzie with the exit play kick and Sexton replies with a beauty. Lineout 5m for the NZM.
1 MINUTE LATER: Lions with the ball inside the Maori half but it's turned over by Ngatai who toes it ahead and McKenzie is flying after it. North cleans it up this time and eventually Murray with a great clearing kick into opposition territory.
1 MINUTE LATER: Lions have a lineout 10m out thanks to a penalty won by Vunipola at the breakdown. Proctor was hammered in the midfield and the Lions prop was there in a flash, legally and the penalty was won.
3 MINUTES LATER: Another penalty for the visitors. TKB penalised at the ruck for going off his feet. Another shot at goal here for Halfpenny.
1 MINUTE LATER, PENALTY GOAL LIONS: Gift three-points. Halfpenny throws it over from in front.
2 MINUTES LATER: Itoje pinged on halfway for not rolling away – McKenzie will attempt a monster of a shot from 55m.
1 MINUTE LATER: Good effort from the 'Smiling Assassin'. He had the distance by a good 5m but it floated just away to the left.
2 MINUTES LATER: Furlong off his feet at the ruck. 40m out close to the touchline but this time the Maori's opt for a lineout.
1 MINUTE LATER: A decent period of attack here for the homeside. Through 11 phases but Messam is pinged for holding on at the ruck. Mario Itoje with good work at the ruck and that should be halftime but Murray kicked it out on the full without tapping it first. Lineout 5m out for the Lions. Weird.
HALFTIME: No dramas at the lineout for the Lions and Murray bangs it into touch. Interesting half – Lions with 65% of the ball but not making the most of it although, for the most part, they have defended very well and if not for that mistake from North, they would have a very handy lead. Be back in 10 mins.
2ND HALF: Damian McKenzie gets the game restarted. Big 40mins coming up for the Lions….for the morale of this side they need to win here.
1 MINUTE LATER: Early penalty for the Lions. Kane Hames penalised for taking down the maul from the kick-off. Lions have an attacking lineout just outside the Maori 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Another penalty. Referee issues a warning to Elliot Dixon. 'Next time you get a card' – Halfpenny to have another shot at 3-points.
1 MINUTE LATER, PENALTY GOAL LIONS: Halfpenny is a sniper. Makes no mistake again and the Lions stretch the lead to five-points.
2 MINUTES LATER: Poor mistake from D-Mac..restart doesn't go the 10 metres. Scrum on halfway for the visitors.
1 MINUTE LATER: James Lowe makes a crucial error. A wasted up and under from Sexton is way to long but Lowe lets it slip through his hands. Scrum 15m out here for the Lions.
1 MINUTE LATER: TKB could be in some trouble here. Looked to be a shoulder tackle on halfpenny close to the line. TMO having a look. Yep he copped him right in the face with a reckless shoulder. It doesn't look great..this could be a red card. Okay so because Halfpenny was going down - he escapes the red but cops a yellow..TMO seemed keen on the red but Peyper was happy with a yellow. Scrum 5m for the Lions.
1 MINUTE LATER: Could be a try for the Lions. Jamie George is claiming it. TMO having a look. It's close..the ball is down but it's a matter of it is over the line. TMO has been asked Try or No Try. TMO says it's inconclusive. Scrum 5m Lions.
1 MINUTE LATER: Scrum penalty for the Lions. Maori ABs need to be super careful not to lose another player here. Six straight penalties in eight-minutes. Scrum 5m again for the Lions.
1 MINUTE LATER, PENALTY TRY LIONS: Referee Peyper had no choice. The Lions scrum just monstered the Maori ABs. Wasn't even close. 12 point lead for the Lions. The Maori boys can't get their hands on the ball.
3 MINUTES LATER: Brilliant offensive defence from the Lions. Lovely kick from Davies and North just smashed Ioane and pushed him back into the in-goal. Scrum 5m for the Lions. This is getting super ugly for the homeside. Proctor looks to be in trouble with a shoulder injury. Stop in play.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY LIONS, MARIO ITOJE: Just absolutely clinical from the tourists. Nice platform with scrum…a couple pick and go's – Itoje crashes over from a metre out. Halfpenny bangs it over nicely. He is scary good with the boot.
1 MINUTE LATER: TKB back on - 14-0 the scorline while he was in the bin.
1 MINUTE LATER: George North earns a penalty for his side after James Lowe impeded him on a high kick. Lineout for the Lions on the Maori 10m line.
2 MINUTES LATER: Ben Te'o and Jonathan Davies causing havoc in the midfield but a wayward pass from O'Brien bring relief for the homeside. McKenzie with a decent touch finder. Lions lineout on the Maori 10m line.
1 MINUTE LATER: Turnover for the Lions in centre field. McKenzie has been poor tonight and coughs it up again. The Lions go on attack again.
1 MINUTE LATER: Good defence form the Maori ABs, but the Lions earn a scrum 5m out and that spells trouble for the homeside. West is on at 10...McKenzie shifts to fullback.
1 MINUTE LATER: Another scrum penalty. They are just destroying the Maori scrum.Murray should have scored under advantage - but couldn't get his pass away...but they should make something of this...Could be another penalty try coming up.
2 MINUTES LATER: Turnover by Elliot Dixon at the resulting ruck from the scrum. Better scrum from the Maoris. McKenzie clears it into touch, Lineout on the 22 for the visitors.
2 MINUTES LATER: Maori ABs finally get some ball and they are throwing it around but not making too much of a dent in to the Lions defence. Ball shifts out to the right but James Lowe is bundled out into touch.
4 MINUTES LATER: Lions just rolling up-field with consummate ease. Good link play between forwards and back. Maori's pinged for multiple players being offside at ruck time 25m out. Halfpenny will knock this over.
1 MINUTE LATER, PENALTY GOAL LIONS: That's 7-7 for Halfpenny and he hasn't missed a kick on tour. Bit of a blowout but to be honest there has only been 1 team in this.
1 MINUTE LATER: Some ball for the Maori ABs, Milner-Skudder trying to create something..shifts it out to Lowe who chips but it floats out into touch. He's had a shocker tonight.
1 MINUTE LATER: Te'o opens them up with a great run…but fantastic cover tackle from James Lowe. The Lions hot on attack but the Maori defending very well here..pushing them back 15m. Lions still with ball through 12 phases.
1 MINUTE LATER: Got to 16 phases in the end - an attempted intercept is dropped by TKB and the Lions have a scrum 20m out.
2 MINUTES LATER: Game getting messy as both sides are keen for the final whistle. Still four minutes to go. The Maori have a scrum on their own 10m line.
1 MINUTE LATER: TMO looking at potential foul play. Ben Te'o is blowing up big time. There was a bit of push and shove on the ground between about five players. Hard to tell with the vision so far. There is no camera angle available…it seemed James Lowe was just about to do something naughty when all the camera's shifted focus. O'Brien is blowing up about copping an elbow but the vision doesn't show that..well it almost does but you can't officiate on what you don't see.
1 MINUTE LATER: Crowd is super flat - they were fired up throughout the 1st half but it's almost dead now.
2 MINUTES LATER: Late scrum penalty for the Lions..how apt..and that should just about do it. Sexton bangs it into touch and the game is over rover.
FULLTIME: Well that was very impressive – an absolute clinic in possession and territory rugby. I honestly think this side has a shot next week if they can control the ball…Their scrum was very good tonight and their ball retention was next level. If they can hold 65% of the ball next week they will go along way to winning the first test. Thanks for your company tonight!
Maori All Blacks 10 British & Irish Lions 32
And finally the Lions have named their team to tackle the Chiefs in a mid week game tomorrow:
1 (Loose head prop): Joe Marler (England/Harlequins)
2 (Hooker): Rory Best (Captain, Ireland/Ulster)
3 (Tight head prop): Dan Cole (England/Leicester Tigers)
4 (Lock): Iain Henderson (Ireland/Ulster)
5 (Lock): Courtney Lawes (England/Northampton Saints)
6 (Blinside Flanker): James Haskell (England/Wasps)
7 (Openside Flanker): Justin Tipuric (Wales/Ospreys)
8 (Number 8): CJ Stander (Ireland/Munster)
9 (Half-back/Scrum-half): Greig Laidlaw (Scotland/Gloucester (England)
10 (First five eighth/Fly-half): Dan Biggar (Wales/Ospreys)
11 (Left Wing): Elliot Daly (England/Wasps)
12 (Second five eighth/Inside Centre): Robbie Henshaw (Ireland/Leinster)
13 (Centre/Outside Centre): Jared Payne (Ireland/Ulster)
14 (Right Wing): Jack Nowell (England/Exeter Chiefs)
& 15 (Fullback): Liam Williams (Wales/Scarlets)
And in the reserves are Kristian Dacey, Allan Dell, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones, Gareth Davies, Finn Russell & Tommy Seymour.
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