Maori All Blacks v British & Irish Lions, 17 June

First topic message reminder :

Maori All Blacks v British & Irish Lions
17 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua

Live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports HD and SkyGo

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Touch judges: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. FORM:

Played 8, Maori won 1, Lions won 7

Recently:

2005-06-11
NZ Maori 19 - 13 British and Irish Lions

1993-05-29
NZ Maori 20 - 24 British and Irish Lions

1977-07-13
NZ Maori 19 - 22 British and Irish Lions

B. TEAMS:

Maori All Blacks 
J Lowe; N Milner-Skudder, M Proctor, C Ngatai, R Ioane; D McKenzie, T Kerr-Barlow; K Hames, A Dixon (capt), B May, J Wheeler, T Franklin, A Ioane, E Dixon, L Messam.

Replacements: H Elliot, C Eves, M Renata, L Price, K Pryor, B Hall, I West, R Thompson.

British & Irish Lions
L Halfpenny (Wales); A Watson (England), J Davies (Wales), B Te'o (England), G North (Wales); J Sexton, C Murray (both Ireland); M Vunipola, J George (both England), T Furlong (Ireland), M Itoje, G Kruis (both England), P O'Mahony (capt, Ireland), S O'Brien (Ireland), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: K Owens (Wales), J McGrath (Ireland), K Sinckler (England), I Henderson (Ireland), S Warburton (Wales), G Laidlaw (Scotland), D Biggar (Wales), E Daly (England).

C. PREVIEW

Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

I'm pleased about that. A man with total integrity who knows about the tradition & what the shirt means to the players.

Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

I'm pleased about that. A man with total integrity who knows about the tradition & what the shirt means to the players.

and who cried like a baby in 2009...he's a wimp and Gets has no time for sentimentality.

Gwlad wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

I'm pleased about that. A man with total integrity who knows about the tradition & what the shirt means to the players.

and who cried like a baby in 2009...he's a wimp and Gets has no time for sentimentality.

Classy.

Gwlad wrote:Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

Don't worry Gwlad, they can play.

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

Don't worry Gwlad, they can play.

doesnt look like it

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

I'm pleased about that. A man with total integrity who knows about the tradition & what the shirt means to the players.

and who cried like a baby in 2009...he's a wimp and Gets has no time for sentimentality.

Classy.

this is pro sport, no time for men who cry.

Gwlad wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

I'm pleased about that. A man with total integrity who knows about the tradition & what the shirt means to the players.

and who cried like a baby in 2009...he's a wimp and Gets has no time for sentimentality.

Classy.

this is pro sport, no time for men who cry.

I'm assuming you have no time for Shane Williams then since he was in floods of tears in his last Wales game?

Very solid start for the Lions so far.

Why is everyone biting with this WUM? Even the mods! Take your own advice and put him on ignore. Or just ignore. You're all falling into his trap far too easily.

Gwlad wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

Don't worry Gwlad, they can play.

doesnt look like it

Keep watching sonny. Big question is can the main Lions side score a try.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sir Ian clearly doesn't rate the decision

I'm pleased about that. A man with total integrity who knows about the tradition & what the shirt means to the players.

and who cried like a baby in 2009...he's a wimp and Gets has no time for sentimentality.

Classy.

this is pro sport, no time for men who cry.

I'm assuming you have no time for Shane Williams then since he was in floods of tears in his last Wales game?

end of Welsh career, doesn't count, he wasn't playing anymore

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

Don't worry Gwlad, they can play.

doesnt look like it

Keep watching sonny. Big question is can the main Lions side score a try.

I am, they're rubbish

And just like that, the MAB's score. Poor mess up from North.

Gwlad wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

Don't worry Gwlad, they can play.

doesnt look like it

Keep watching sonny. Big question is can the main Lions side score a try.

I am, they're rubbish

Gee look Gwlad, that's what they call a try. Your boys have yet to experience one of those but hey, keep trying with those little three pointers.

Griff wrote:Why is everyone biting with this WUM? Even the mods! Take your own advice and put him on ignore. Or just ignore. You're all falling into his trap far too easily.

You are of course correct - he just hit a nerve there

North

Maori have shown nothing so far, but one mistake and they're in. All came from Lions not protecting their ball after Itoje won a fine turnover in midfield.

Any other winger than North would have played himself out of the test team after doing that!

And that is was Davies can do.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:North

Maori have shown nothing so far, but one mistake and they're in. All came from Lions not protecting their ball after Itoje won a fine turnover in midfield.

That's all it takes for this side. They'll feast off scraps if they have to. Where the Lions will nibble at the banquet

Excellent break Davies!

Fine break from Davies, but once more the Lions fail to finish it off. Halfpenny penalty puts them back in front, but should have been more.

I think that Kruis is very lucky there, clear elbow to head. He was in the air for the charge down but could/should have done better there.

Kruis has also been at the heart of all the breakdowns in Lions attacks, very unusual for him.

Sexton different class so far, looking a bit frustrated.

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Oh look, a haka, there's. surprise

That bloke with the spear wants to be careful, he might have someone's eye out

That No 2 looks like Bruce the Bear

Hope they can play rugby as well as dance

Don't worry Gwlad, they can play.

doesnt look like it

Keep watching sonny. Big question is can the main Lions side score a try.

I am, they're rubbish

Gee look Gwlad, that's what they call a try. Your boys have yet to experience one of those but hey, keep trying with those little three pointers.

perfectly sums up that you know nowt about rugby old man....an opportunistic try from a Lions mistake, Maori are being outclassed in every facet with about 600% more tackling hanging on by their finger nails

Does Maori mean Bad Hair?

Can you schoolkids stop bickering.

At last the real Sexton has arrived in NZ. Jonathon Davies playing well also even if he still struggles with the final pass.

The Lions just seem to be forcing this too much, silly offloads when not required. Composure lads.

This isn't overly inspiring.

Think we make more yards rolling after being tackled than before.

JD, Halfpenny and Sexton playing well... Not much else to shout about.

We're winning ffs

Someone needs to tell Maori blokes to go forwards not sideways

Listen to Marshall Taylorman, he knows about rugby, you might learn something

By golly gosh you're a douche

Cmon Maori, get those gears working. Lions are only putting on 3's as usual.

A very good cover tackle there from Davies, been very impressed with him so far.

ebop wrote:By golly gosh you're a douche

Yeah he's going to start crying in about twenty minutes so better leave him be.

Maori look like they've absorbed the early stuff and the Lions forwards are starting to struggle.

Maori backs haven't even started yet.

Stupid from Furlong, ref clearly tells him to release and Maoris not going anywhere, daft penalty to give away.

All a bit uninspiring so far. Sexton's looked sharp, as has Davies, which is good.

How could POM not know the rules... That could have ended badly for the Lions.

ebop wrote:By golly gosh you're a douche

You might too but I doubt it

Geez how can an international kicker not know the rules or the final whistle?

Taylorman wrote:

ebop wrote:By golly gosh you're a douche

Yeah he's going to start crying in about twenty minutes so better leave him be.

Maori look like they've absorbed the early stuff and the Lions forwards are starting to struggle.

Maori backs haven't even started yet.

You dont even know what you're looking at do you

Itoje with another fine turnover at the breakdown, means Lions go in with a HT lead. Bit silly not knowing the new law there, but no damage done.

I think the Maoris have been a bit disappointing so far, not really showing anything in attack. Lions have played their usual structured, controlled game, but aside from a couple of breaks from Davies haven't really threatened either.

10 - 12 at half time. An opportunist try for the MAB's but some very uninspiring stuff from the Lions. Halfpenny doing exactly what he was brought in to do by kicking the points when on offer.

The Lions just look rushed and I fear that if the MAB's get more ball in the second half, they may stretch their legs and the Lions may struggle.

Typical pick and go NZ side, 0 offloads.

To be fair to the Maori the Lions test side are very good in defence. The Crusaders found that out. It's just their lack of composure, vision and skill sets that limit their try scoring ability that lets them down. They haven't really looked like scoring a try.

Taylorman wrote:Geez how can an international kicker not know the rules or the final whistle?

International kicker?

Griff wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Geez how can an international kicker not know the rules or the final whistle?

International kicker?

Taylorman is tripping over his dentures again.