In their centenary year, the Maoris earn another famous victory to add to the scalps of France, Australia and the Lions that they have taken in their history. Great game but Ireland did themselves no favour with the start they had, going 15-0 down. Some decent performances for Ireland – Sexton, Murphy, Duffy, Wallace, Ronan and Henry come to mind, but at the end of the day it’s another defeat for Declan Kidney’s men. That’s all from me for now. Full time in Rotorua. Maoris 31-28 Ireland.
There goes the final whistle! It’s all over in Rotorua.
Time is up and all the Maoris need to do is get the ball into touch…
From an Irish scrum, Niall Ronan breaks away but spills it in the tackle. Scrum to the Maoris and this could be the end of it.
Less than three minutes left in Rotorua.
Penalty to the Maoris. Irish players left the line far too early and that’s a waste.
Ireland within metres of the Maori line but Karl Lowe steals it and Robbie Robinson clears but not very far. Ireland with the lineout on the Maori 22.
Ireland piling on the pressure in the Maori 22…
Would you believe it, he’s missed it. It was one of the easiest kicks he’s had all night and the first he’s missed from 9. That might be the last chance but somehow I think Ireland wil get another chance.
Ireland get a penalty immediately from the restart. Didn’t quite spot what for but Jonny Sexton won’t complain.
Rob Kearney on for Shane Horgan for the last few minutes.
Easy. Maoris in front again.
Ireland penalised straight in front of the posts and Ripia has a chance to put the Maoris in front with seven minutes to go.
Sexton hasn’t put a foot wrong all night until now. Puts a huge kick in from just outside the 22 looking for territory but it goes straight out on the full and Ireland are brought all the way back.
Damien Varley on for Ireland and immediately has a problem with his contact lenses. Good thing that the ref, Mark Lawrence is a former optometrist. He has them in in a blink of an eye.
Ten minutes left in what has been a hugely entertaining encounter…
More boos from the crowd but it doesn’t affect the Leinster number ten. Straight between the sticks and Ireland are level.
Soft penalty awarded to Ireland and Sexton has a chance from just past halfway to level it…
Cavalry on for Ireland in the shape of Munster giants Donncha O’Callaghan and David Wallace.
Maoris have their tails up. Fifteen minutes left for Ireland to try and salvage something from the game.
That was an absolutely brilliant score from the Maoris. Sean Maitland ran from inside his 22 and beat half the Irish team before being stopped just outside the Irish 22. Switched across to the wing where Lowe finishes in the corner. Replacment Ripia adds the conversion. Maoris back in front.
TRY NZ Maori!!!
Peter Stringer on for Eoin (or Yew-an, as the commentators were calling him) Reddan for Ireland.
Sexton with a lovely flick back inside to Rhys Ruddock, but the new man fumbles when almost clear of the defence. Lovely from Sexton, unlucky from Ruddock.
Wallace was unlucky with an intelligent kick into the corner. Just bounced, ever so marginally, outside the line. This one is still wide open.
Penalty to Maoris to bring them back to within the minimum. Luke McAlister misses! Terrible.
Murphy back on with a scrum cap to hide his wounds. Bit of a lull in the game at the moment. Ireland’s momentum has come to a halt for a while but Maoris not exerting much pressure either.
Blood is absolutely bucketing out of a wound on Johne Murphy’s head so Rob Kearney will be on for five minutes or so.
Just wide from a long way out.
Another penalty for the Maoris, Niall Ronan a bit too zealous trying to get the ball back but was off his feet. Another chance for McAlister to narrow the gap.
McAlister finally stops the rot for the Maoris with a well-struck penalty. Gap is back to 4. 25-21 Ireland.
The commentators can’t get over the fact that some of the Irish fans are actually drinking water and not alcohol. You have to love the stereotyping.
The paint from the sponsorship logos in the middle of the pitch has left some of the Irish players covered in blue. Eoin Reddan is particularly affected, he looks like an avatar.
Less than a minute into the half and Ireland pick up where they left off at the end of the first half. Excellent dummy from Geordan Murphy creates the space and Paddy Wallace takes it up and has enough momentum to take him over the line. Conversion is no problem to Sexton. 25-18 Ireland.
TRY Ireland!!!
The Bull Hayes is on for Ireland instead of Tom Court.
Ready to go again in Rotorua…Sexton kicks off
It’s very funny the way the New Zealand commentators pronounce their vowels. Basically i’s sound like e’s and e’s sound like i’s. So six becomes sex and seven become sivin. Maybe it’s not that funny but I need to keep myself entertained so early in the morning!
Sexton must be a shoo-in for number ten against the Wallabies next week. His kicking has been great but he’s running the show as well. O’Gara was very poor last weekend, will it be the end of him as Ireland’s first choice?
Despite boos from the crowd, Sexton puts it straight down the middle and Ireland are level. And there goes the half time whistle. Excellent last 20 minutes from Ireland, it’s a pity they were so shocking at the start.
Another penalty to the Irish who are fairly rampant at this stage, but despite the final warning last time out, Lawrence lets the Maoris off with another warning. Difficult angle for Sexton but the way he’s been kicking today, he should handle it.
Sexton’s on fire with the boot. His fifth penalty gets Ireland back to within 3. Great recovery after a disastrous start.
Constant infringement at the rucks from the Maoris and Ireland are awarded yet another penalty. Maoris receive a warning from referee Mark Lawrence. One more offence and it’s a yellow card.
Plenty of Irish in the crowd and plenty of leprechaun like parafenalia on show. At least they’re finally getting their money’s worth.
Ireland have been far more settled in the last ten minutes or so and have started to put some phases together, Sexton and Gavin Duffy have been heavily involved. Another penalty for Ireland close in and Sexton taps it over. 18-12 Maoris.
Sexton keeps eating away at the Maori lead with another penalty. 9-18.
Mike from Galway has been in touch and he’s worried about what he’s seen so far.
“George Hook said on the telly last week that Ireland were going to concede 150 points on this tour. Not a good start today – maybe the big mouth will be right.â€
If it keeps going like this Mike he won’t be far wrong and we’ve Australia to come yet.
Another super kick from Sexton. 18-6 Maoris.
Penalty Ireland right on halfway, another chance for Sexton to give the boys in green a reprieve from the Maori onslaught.
Ireland narrowly escape another try as Sean Maitland narrowly fails to touchdown, the ball crossed the end line before he had a chance. Another let off for Ireland, this has not been good so far.
No problem to McAllister. 18-3 to the Maoris.
Straight away, the Maoris get a penalty of their own after Tom Court infringes in the ruck. Should be easy enough for McAllister.
Sexton nails the kick. 15-3 Maoris.
Apparently the Maoris are going to rectify the jersey problem at half time. Thank god.
Harry Smith almost steals in again on halfway for the Maoris but mercifully he was well offside. Penalty for Ireland and first chance for Sexton to put some points on the board.
Disaster for Ireland again. Dwayne Sweeney this time getting over the line. Again it’s a pitiful effort from the Irish defence to keep him out. McAllister fires over the conversion. 15-0 and only fourteen minutes gone.
Ireland finally manage to get a few phases together with Paddy Wallace, Duffy, Ronan and Sexton all invloved but Stephen Brett seals it and kicks Ireland back right inside their 22. Disappointing.
Just like last week, Ireland are really struggling to impose themselves on the game. It’s all the Maoris so far.
McAllister narrowly misses the conversion. 8-0 Maoris.
It’s Hosea Gear again but it was way too easy. Robbie Robinson did all the hard work and released Gear who strolled in unchallenged in the corner.
TRY NZ Maori!!!
Ominous start from the Maoris. Shane Horgan kicks a garryowen in the direction of Hosea Gear and the winger catches it and brushes Horgan aside as if he wasn’t there.
Early penalty for the Maoris as the Irish are offside. McAllister is going to go for the posts and it’s right in front of them about 30 yards out. He nails it, good start for the Maoris.3-0.
Well this is going to be easy…half the Maori players are playing with no numbers on the backs of their jerseys.
All ready to go in Rotorua…we’re underway.
The haka is one thing but when it’s done by the Maoris themselves it’s some sight. Loads of throat slashing and tongues protruding, they look like they want blood…
Frankie Sheahan and Paul Wallace in the studio anticipating a difficult game for the Irish, stressing the need to eliminate the errors from last weekend.
Was actually in Rotorua this time last year and it’s a great place to visit with thermal springs and endless amounts of adventure sports to keep adrenaline junkies entertained. There’s a horrible smell emanating from the springs however that you can’t escape from, a bit like burning eggs, not pleasant at all.
Big game for some of the Irish lads as well, especially in the forwards. Johne Murphy is the only man amongst the backs who hasn’t been a regular feature of the Irish squad over the last few years but the likes of John Fogarty, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Niall Ronan, Chris Henry have a great chance to make a claim for more regular inclusion as does Rhys Ruddock, a late arrival on tour after the Jamie Heaslip’s suspension and John Muldoon’s arm injury.
Make no mistake about it, the Maoris will be well up for this one. It’s 100 years since the first ever Maori side played in Rortorua so they will be eager to mark the anniversary with a victory. Some players you might know from their line up are centre Luke McAllister and winger Hosea Gear.
Ireland: Geordan Murphy (capt.); Shane Horgan, Gavin Duffy, Paddy Wallace, Johne Murphy; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Marcus Horan, John Fogarty, Tom Court, Ed O’Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Rhys Ruddock, Niall Ronan, Chris Henry.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Rob Kearney.
NZ Maori: R Robinson, S Maitland, D Sweeney, L McAlister, H Gear, S Brett, A Smith, B Murray, C Flynn, B Afeaki, H Triggs, J Hoeata, L Messam, T Latimer, C Bourke
Replacements: D Coles, C Newlands, R Graham, K Lowe, R Tipuna, W Ripia, J Willison
Good morning and welcome to JOE’s live coverage of Ireland against the New Zealand Maori, a game that has taken on added significance as Ireland look to recover from a humiliating defeat to the All-Blacks last weekend. Just under half an hour to go until kick off. I’ll have the teams for you shortly.
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