Brad Weber scores a try for the Maoris. Image: Photosport/Jeremy Ward/INPHO Brad Weber scores a try for the Maoris. Image: Photosport/Jeremy Ward/INPHO MAORI ALL BLACKS 32 IRELAND 17 THIS WAS LIKE the bad old days of Irish rugby, when the amateur tourists regularly surrendered to the failing of thinking with their hearts rather than their heads.
Even the fourth Maori try had its origins in an Irish mistake, Ireland’s defence reacting too slowly to Wayne Barnes’ decision to award a free kick to the hosts inside the 22. It’s hard to believe that at one stage early in the match Ireland held a 10-8 lead, an advantage that got wiped out in that 20-minute spell just before half-time when the Maoris scored 24 unanswered points, tries coming from winger Shaun Stevenson, scrum-half Brad Weber and No8 Cullen Grace.
Here, the Maoris stumbled initially, regained their balance and then cruised for that second quarter. Ireland’s response was strong. A set-piece play saw Nick Timoney, and Gavin Coombes involved, before Aki ran a clever line to break free from midfield and score. Now it was 10-8. That was the tale of this quarter. There was a big price to pay for small mistakes. A free kick given against them by ref Barnes, after they closed the gap at the line out, led to the third Maori try five minutes before the break, Ioane again involved, Rameka Poihipi with the carry that got him across the gainline, Weber following up to score. It was 25-10 now and if you thought that scoreline looked bad then worse was to come.
Silly headline!
thejournal_ie Don’t know why we’d be “stunned”. Stunned we scored 2 tries against NZM with a very callow team maybe.
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