Ireland puts another nail in New Zealand coffin
MATCH REPORT: Ireland put down another huge marker when they beat the New Zealand Maori team in a wet Wellington on Tuesday.
The 30-24 win - four tries each - came just days before the Test series decider between the All Blacks and Ireland at the same venue on Saturday.
For the Irish second-stringers, it is also revenge, after their tour-opening midweek loss in Hamilton to the Maori team.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
Ireland produced a much-improved performance, headlined by two tries to Jordan Larmour.
It was the display that would have pleased coach Andy Farrell as he looked to develop experience throughout his squad ahead of the World Cup next year.
Memories of Ireland's dismal first week on tour when they lost to the Maori and the All Blacks faded into the background as they completed wins over both sides in the past three days.
In a match that produced four yellow cards and a penalty try, the largely second-string Ireland - with only three players in the run-on side having played more than 10 Tests - looked a much more cohesive unit than they did in their first match.
Their opening try to Larmour came from inspired thinking by Keith Earls, the captain for the match, who caught the Maori napping, and the second to Nick Timoney started from a line-out steal at the other end of the field.
Defensively, Ireland was quick to shut down attacks by the Maori, forcing multiple errors by a side keen to play a running game despite greasy conditions after a day of heavy rain.
They also benefitted from a smart kicking game by halves Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley.
Following an early try to Maori wing Shaun Stevenson, smart improvisation by Earls put Ireland in front in the seventh minute.
As the Maori forwards slowly made their way to a line-out, Earls threw the ball in quickly to Larmour who raced, untouched, to score under the posts and leave Frawley with a simple conversion.
Frawley was on target again 20 minutes later with a handy penalty.
From the restart, when repeated offences saw Cian Prendergast yellow-carded, the Maori preference to kick for the corner rather than take a shot at goal inadvertently turned into more points for Ireland.
The tourists stole the line-out and made their way to the other end of the field where Nick Timoney drove over for the try, Frawley again converted and the New Zealand Maori had Ollie Norris sent to the sin-bin.
Another Frawley penalty a minute into the second half increased Ireland's lead to 20-5 before the New Zealand Maori managed to score for the second time with the penalty try which also saw Larmour yellow-carded for an early tackle.
As the game loosened up the final quarter produced four tries.
Gavin Coombes extended the Irish lead when he drove over for a try from close-range and the Maori replied when Reuben Love started and finished an 80-metre move
Larmour touched down in the corner to complete Ireland's scoring before Maori scrumhalf Brad Weber scored on the stroke of full-time.
The Ireland tour ends with the deciding third Test in Wellington on Saturday.
Man of the match: Shaun Stevenson not only scored the first try, but was a monster on defence for New Zealand Maori. However, he spoiled it with a cynical foul at the end. The tactical difference between the two teams was Irish flyhalf Ciaran Frawley - with his game management far superior to that of his New Zealand counterpart. Our award goes to the two Irish flanks - Nick Timoney and Cian Prendergast - for their physical presence and immense work rate.
The scorers
For New Zealand Maori
Tries: Stevenson, Penalty try, Love, Weber
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion, Ioane
For Ireland
Tries: Larmour 2, Timoney, Coombes
Cons: Frawley 2
Pens: Frawley 2
Yellow card: Cian Prendergast (Ireland, 28 - cynical foul, not 10 metres at a quick tap penalty), Ollie Norris (New Zealand Maori, 32 - repeated offences, collapsing a maul illegally), Jordan Larmour (Ireland, 45 - cynical foul, early tackle), Shaun Stevenson (New Zealand Maori, 73 - cynical foul, slapping the ball forward)
Teams:
New Zealand Maori: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Connor Garden-Bachop, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Cullen Grace, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Te Kamaka Howden, 20 Caleb Delany, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Ruben Love, 23 Billy Proctor.
Ireland: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Keith Earls (captain), 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Ciaran Frawley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Ryan Baird, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Mack Hansen.
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley, Jordan way
TMO: James Leckie