Much-improved British and Irish Lions beat Maori All Blacks 32-10
ByReuters
Updated 17/06/2017 at 10:18 GMT
The British and Irish Lions exploited a yellow card to Tawera Kerr-Barlow to set up a game-winning margin and grind down the Maori All Blacks to record a 32-10 win at Rotorua International Stadium on Saturday.
Maori All Blacks perform the Haka prior to the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour match between the Maori All Blacks and the British & Irish Lions at the Rotorua International Stadium on June 17, 2017 in Rotorua, New Zealand
Image credit: Getty Images
Kerr-Barlow was sinbinned for a dangerous shoulder tackle on Lions fullback Leigh Halfpenny allowing the visitors to extend their advantage from 15-10 to 29-10 while the scrumhalf was on the sideline shortly after halftime.
Referee Jaco Peyper awarded a penalty try to the Lions, while lock Maro Itoje drove over, with Halfpenny adding six penalties and a conversion for the visitors who now face the Waikato Chiefs on Tuesday in Hamilton.
Loose forward Liam Messam scored the home side's only try, while flyhalf Damian McKenzie added a conversion and penalty against a Lions combination that is expected to run out during the first test against the All Blacks next week.
The Lions' strongest side were at their clinical best in the second half and unless coach Warren Gatland drastically changes his tactics and personnel in the next seven days the All Blacks will be well aware of what they can expect to face at Eden Park.
Controlled phase possession, a fast suffocating defence, slowing the ball at the breakdown and a tactical kicking game designed to force errors in favourable field positions were the highlights of the Lions' tactics.
The visitors, however, showed that given half a chance they could split the defence with centres Jonathan Davies and Ben Te'o proving how dangerous they could be when allowed space.
The Lions held a 12-10 lead at the break courtesy of four Halfpenny penalties as they deprived the Maori of fast ball. Their only try came when a Nehe Milner-Skudder kick skidded across the wet field and George North failed to clean up.
The man advantage after the break, however, changed the game, as the Lions forwards took total control of the match with Peyper awarding a penalty try after a series of reset scrums.
Itoje then crashed over following another sustained buildup and the visitors could have scored more tries through their forwards had the Maori not produced a valiant scrambling defence in their own 22-metre area.
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