Maori misfire and more talking points as the Lions roar before All Black Tests

It was a rough night in Rotorua for the Kiwi side.

THE LIONS RESPONDED to New Zealand’s 78 - 0 thrashing of Samoa with a 10 -32 win over the New Zealand Maori. You’ll find the match report here, player ratings over here and below are some snap talking points post-match.

Maori misfire

“Congratulations on a wonderful haka”, Sky’s Will Greenwood said warmly to Maori skipper Ash Dixon after the full-time whistle this morning.

Unfortunately for Elliott, his team and anyone tuning in for a contest billed as the ‘fourth Test’ of this tour, the pre-match Haka was indeed the most impressive moment from the representative side and the contest paled in comparison to the tourists’ meeting with Super Rugby teams.

Liam Messam scores their first try George North's error and Liam Messam's try was as good as it got for the Maori. Photosport / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO Photosport / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO / Andrew Cornaga/INPHO

The 10 – 32 win is the largest margin the Lions have managed against the Maori selection, by-passing the previous best of 12 – 23.

12 years ago Jono Gibbes led a momentous victory over the Lions in Hamilton, but rugby has changed a great deal in those dozen years. A team brimming with passion, identity and no little skill is not enough to match a gelled Lions’ first-choice selection who were more than happy to squeeze the life out of the game.

Great Haka, but the Provincial Barbarians versus a cold-off-the-plain Lions squad was a fairer contest.

Confidence pumped up again for Test series

Whatever the failings of the Maori, there was a lot in the Lions performance for head coach Warren Gatland to be enthusiastic about. The set-piece was exceptional with George Kruis leading the line-out and Mako Vunipola and Tadhg Furlong in destructive mood at the scrum.

Alun Wyn Jones will almost certainly come in, but it shouldn’t be an easy call to plant anybody in the tight five as it stood today.

A view of a scrum Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

The midfield was also rock solid with Ben Te’o pouring buckets of cold water on the Farrell-in-the-centre idea and Jonathan Davies continuing his brilliant Scarlets form with commendable line-breaks and breakdown work.

The Tullow Tank is your 2017 Lions openside

Sean O’Brien put himself in pole position for the number 7 jersey with an immense performance in Christchurch against the Crusaders, but we couldn’t be sure he would stay ahead of tour captain Sam Warburton until the Welshman was introduced off the bench today.

Sean O'Brien and Greig Laidlaw celebrate winning Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

With Peter O’Mahony limping off (he says it was just a bit of a scare, nothing serious), Warburton packed straight down on the blindside. A week out from the first Test, O’Brien continued as the openside and got through an excellent 80 minute shift.

Hopefully O’Mahony can shake off the knock he picked up, because Taulupe Faletau and his two Irish flankers look a formidable blend.

Call-ups signal an official dirt-tracker divide

Every four years, the build-up to the Lions series always forces me to think about Top Gun. These are the elite, this jersey means you’re the best of the best, we’re constantly told while Jim Telfer’s voice booms motivational words in the background.

But today, Gatland released one injured player and called up six who he was happy to mark “identical time zone” as a primary reason for their selection.

The four Welshman and two Scots will act as slabs of beef to protect the choice cuts ear-marked for Test match duty. But their presence will make it all the tougher to motivate and inspire their fellow midweek men.

Fresh meat / time-zone friendly call-ups Gareth Davies, Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey and Tom Francis Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO