Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the second-last stop of Ireland’s summer tour of New Zealand, with Andy Farrell’s squad in Wellington to take on the Maori All Blacks.
Ciarán Kennedy here to take you through all the action as it happens. Kick off at the Sky Stadium is at 8.05am Irish time.
12 Jul 2022
7:56AM
It’s all change for Ireland today, with Keith Earls captaining a youthful looking side.
The Ireland line up to face the Māori All Blacks on Tuesday night is here! ✊
Keith Earls will captain the side at Sky Stadium in Wellington ⬇️#TeamOfUs | #MABvIRE
A poor start from Ireland. An error from the kick-off leads to a Maori scrum and from there it’s all Maori pressure. After a couple of snipes at the Ireland defence, the opening try comes rather easily, the home side moving the ball from right to left before Shaun Stevenson rounds Michael Lowry to dot down the opening score of the game.
Josh Ioane drags the conversion well wide, but conditions are challenging in Wellington, with heavy rain before kick off and a swirling wind.
Out of nowhere, Ireland strike back. They win a lineout in the Maori half and Keith Earls is sharpest to react, noticing the home side have momentarily switched off and quickly playing in Jordan Larmour, who can race through from distance unchallenged. Ciarán Frawley converts and Ireland lead in Wellington. Really clever play from Earls and Larmour.
12 Jul 2022
8:21AM
15mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 7
The home team looking really dangerous again in these early stages, breaking from deep and finding gaps when there appears to be very little on. Stevenson has made another strong break, with Earls burned down the right, but a promising move breaks down with a knock-on in the Ireland 22. The Maoris have enjoyed 75% of the possession across the opening 15 minutes, but Ireland still lead by two points.
12 Jul 2022
8:31AM
22mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 7
Niall Scannell does well to win a penalty as the Maoris apply pressure in the Ireland half. Ireland holding up well in the early scrums and slowly growing into the game. Gavin Coombes has had some nice touches and Jordan Larmour has flashed that quick footwork a couple of times.
A tough one for Cian Prendergast. New Zealand win a penalty, take it quickly, Prendergast makes the tackle but wasn’t back far enough.
Ireland now down to 14 for the next 10 minutes. A blow for Ireland, but Treadwell – who has started really well – gets up to steal the resulting lineout and now it’s Ireland who are deep in the Maori half.
Coombes goes close under pressure from a sea of black jerseys, but referee Karl Dickson says no try. From the next lineout, Ireland power forward again with a good maul, and Dickson calls for another penalty.
Ollie Norris gets the yellow card for a side entry, so now both teams are down to 14.
That’s been coming. After a period of extended Ireland pressure, Nick Timoney gets over the line following some good work from Gavin Coombes. Ciarán Frawley does really well to slot the conversion and Ireland now hold a healthy lead in Wellington.
12 Jul 2022
8:46AM
39mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 17
Cian Prendergast back on for Ireland. Maoris still down to 14 for the next 3 minutes.
Some really good stuff from Ireland in that first half. The Maoris look dangerous when they break but so far Ireland’s defence has held up well – outside that early Maori try – and at the other end the visitors have struck twice through smart, simple plays.
Some good individual performances too, with Kieran Treadwell having some really strong involvements. We’ll be back shortly with all the second-half action.
12 Jul 2022
9:04AM
The second-half has just kicked off. No changes for either team at the break.
Ireland start the second half with an early penalty, won by try-scorer Nick Timoney. Ciarán Frawley lines up the shot at the posts from about 35 metres out, and nails the kick. The Leinster man has been excellent off the tee today.
Flashbacks to Saturday’s second Test as we go to the TMO to check for a tackle off the ball.
Jordan Larmour is the man who looks to have impeded Connor Garden-Bachop as the Maoris break down the left wing. Referee Karl Dickson doesn’t take too long to make up his mind, and decides to yellow card Larmour and award the penalty try. That could be a big, big moment early in this second half.
12 Jul 2022
9:19AM
52mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
The Maoris get another opportunity to break from their own 22 as Connor Garden-Bachop kicks forward, but Michael Lowry does well to smother the ball before Cian Prendergast clears. This game is starting to open up again.
Meanwhile the home side have sent in Brad Weber for TJ Perenara.
12 Jul 2022
9:23AM
56mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Ireland win another penalty, and again it’s Timoney doing the good work at the breakdown.
Ireland also back to 15 as Larmour returns to the action. Ryan Baird has also replaced Kieran Treadwell.
12 Jul 2022
9:30AM
62mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Another change for Ireland as Ed Byrne comes in to replace Jeremy Loughman.
12 Jul 2022
9:37AM
66mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Ireland have a lineout in the Maori 22, win the ball and go their maul. Casey then clips a kick through for Frawley to chase, but a Maori All Black defender is on hand to clear the danger. Ireland get a second chance with another lineout, which Baird claims, and this time Ireland turn to their close-contact carry game, lose the ball at the breakdown, but quickly win another penalty and go the corner again.
Meanwhile Joey Carbery has come in to replace Michael Lowry.
At the third attempt, an Ireland lineout ends with a try, and it’s a full-deserved score for Gavin Coombes, who has been excellent and came close in the first half. Frawley’s conversion pulls narrowly wide, but with a little over 10 minutes left on the clock, that should be the game wrapped up for Ireland.
A sensational score from the Maoris. Ruben Love breaks from deep down the middle and fires a pass out wide to Cullen Grace, who in turn manages to fling a brilliant one-armed offload back inside to Love, who dots down to finish a thrilling passage of play. The conversion sails wide, but Ireland’s lead is cut to eight points.
The Maoris will have to see out the remainder of this game with 14 men, as Shaun Stevenson is sent to the line after he sticks out a hand to try intercept a Carbery pass and is pinged for a deliberate knock-on.
Larmour crosses for his second try of the game after a sharp pass from Stuart McCloskey. Frawley’s conversion gets caught by the breeze but that should be that for Ireland. Michael Bent is also on to see out the last few minutes. Who saw that one coming a few weeks ago?
Another Maori try from nothing, which came from another brilliant Ruben Love break. He’s been excellent since coming on. Weber applies the finishing touch and the score is converted but that will be that in Wellington.
Full-time in Wellington, and a six-point win for Ireland. Some really encouraging performances, with Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes and Kieran Treadwell all enjoying strong outings, while Jordan Larmour crossed twice and Ciarán Frawley recovered from a slow start to play an important part in a strong team performance.
12 Jul 2022
10:02AM
That’s all from us this morning, thanks for joining our live coverage. We’ll have a full match report and all the reaction from Wellington on site shortly courtesy of our man in Wellington, Garry Doyle.
A really encouraging outing for Ireland, but now it’s all eyes on Saturday’s third Test.
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As it happened: Māori All Blacks v Ireland, summer tour
LAST UPDATE | 12 Jul 2022
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the second-last stop of Ireland’s summer tour of New Zealand, with Andy Farrell’s squad in Wellington to take on the Maori All Blacks.
Ciarán Kennedy here to take you through all the action as it happens. Kick off at the Sky Stadium is at 8.05am Irish time.
It’s all change for Ireland today, with Keith Earls captaining a youthful looking side.
And here’s how the home side line-up.
Reckon this guy could still do a couple of minutes off the bench?
Just over five minutes to kick-off now, let us know your predictions in the comments section below.
An interesting late development… Finlay Bealham appears to have been ruled out during the warm-up.
KICK-OFF
TRY – Māori All Blacks 5 (Stevenson) Ireland 0
3mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 0
A poor start from Ireland. An error from the kick-off leads to a Maori scrum and from there it’s all Maori pressure. After a couple of snipes at the Ireland defence, the opening try comes rather easily, the home side moving the ball from right to left before Shaun Stevenson rounds Michael Lowry to dot down the opening score of the game.
Josh Ioane drags the conversion well wide, but conditions are challenging in Wellington, with heavy rain before kick off and a swirling wind.
TRY – Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 7 (Larmour)
9mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 7
Out of nowhere, Ireland strike back. They win a lineout in the Maori half and Keith Earls is sharpest to react, noticing the home side have momentarily switched off and quickly playing in Jordan Larmour, who can race through from distance unchallenged. Ciarán Frawley converts and Ireland lead in Wellington. Really clever play from Earls and Larmour.
15mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 7
The home team looking really dangerous again in these early stages, breaking from deep and finding gaps when there appears to be very little on. Stevenson has made another strong break, with Earls burned down the right, but a promising move breaks down with a knock-on in the Ireland 22. The Maoris have enjoyed 75% of the possession across the opening 15 minutes, but Ireland still lead by two points.
22mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 7
Niall Scannell does well to win a penalty as the Maoris apply pressure in the Ireland half. Ireland holding up well in the early scrums and slowly growing into the game. Gavin Coombes has had some nice touches and Jordan Larmour has flashed that quick footwork a couple of times.
PENALTY – Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 10 (Frawley)
25mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 10
Frawley extends Ireland’s lead with a penalty.
YELLOW CARD – Cian Prendergast
28mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 10
A tough one for Cian Prendergast. New Zealand win a penalty, take it quickly, Prendergast makes the tackle but wasn’t back far enough.
Ireland now down to 14 for the next 10 minutes. A blow for Ireland, but Treadwell – who has started really well – gets up to steal the resulting lineout and now it’s Ireland who are deep in the Maori half.
YELLOW CARD – Ollie Norris
31mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 10
Coombes goes close under pressure from a sea of black jerseys, but referee Karl Dickson says no try. From the next lineout, Ireland power forward again with a good maul, and Dickson calls for another penalty.
Ollie Norris gets the yellow card for a side entry, so now both teams are down to 14.
TRY – Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 17 (Timoney)
34mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 17
That’s been coming. After a period of extended Ireland pressure, Nick Timoney gets over the line following some good work from Gavin Coombes. Ciarán Frawley does really well to slot the conversion and Ireland now hold a healthy lead in Wellington.
39mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 17
Cian Prendergast back on for Ireland. Maoris still down to 14 for the next 3 minutes.
HALF-TIME
Some really good stuff from Ireland in that first half. The Maoris look dangerous when they break but so far Ireland’s defence has held up well – outside that early Maori try – and at the other end the visitors have struck twice through smart, simple plays.
Some good individual performances too, with Kieran Treadwell having some really strong involvements. We’ll be back shortly with all the second-half action.
The second-half has just kicked off. No changes for either team at the break.
PENALTY – Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 20 (Frawley)
42mins: Māori All Blacks 5 Ireland 20
Ireland start the second half with an early penalty, won by try-scorer Nick Timoney. Ciarán Frawley lines up the shot at the posts from about 35 metres out, and nails the kick. The Leinster man has been excellent off the tee today.
TRY – Māori All Blacks 12 (penalty try) Ireland 20
46mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Flashbacks to Saturday’s second Test as we go to the TMO to check for a tackle off the ball.
Jordan Larmour is the man who looks to have impeded Connor Garden-Bachop as the Maoris break down the left wing. Referee Karl Dickson doesn’t take too long to make up his mind, and decides to yellow card Larmour and award the penalty try. That could be a big, big moment early in this second half.
52mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
The Maoris get another opportunity to break from their own 22 as Connor Garden-Bachop kicks forward, but Michael Lowry does well to smother the ball before Cian Prendergast clears. This game is starting to open up again.
Meanwhile the home side have sent in Brad Weber for TJ Perenara.
56mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Ireland win another penalty, and again it’s Timoney doing the good work at the breakdown.
Ireland also back to 15 as Larmour returns to the action. Ryan Baird has also replaced Kieran Treadwell.
62mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Another change for Ireland as Ed Byrne comes in to replace Jeremy Loughman.
66mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 20
Ireland have a lineout in the Maori 22, win the ball and go their maul. Casey then clips a kick through for Frawley to chase, but a Maori All Black defender is on hand to clear the danger. Ireland get a second chance with another lineout, which Baird claims, and this time Ireland turn to their close-contact carry game, lose the ball at the breakdown, but quickly win another penalty and go the corner again.
Meanwhile Joey Carbery has come in to replace Michael Lowry.
TRY – Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 25 (Coombes)
69mins: Māori All Blacks 12 Ireland 25
At the third attempt, an Ireland lineout ends with a try, and it’s a full-deserved score for Gavin Coombes, who has been excellent and came close in the first half. Frawley’s conversion pulls narrowly wide, but with a little over 10 minutes left on the clock, that should be the game wrapped up for Ireland.
TRY – Māori All Blacks 17 (Love) Ireland 25
73mins: Māori All Blacks 17 Ireland 25
A sensational score from the Maoris. Ruben Love breaks from deep down the middle and fires a pass out wide to Cullen Grace, who in turn manages to fling a brilliant one-armed offload back inside to Love, who dots down to finish a thrilling passage of play. The conversion sails wide, but Ireland’s lead is cut to eight points.
YELLOW CARD – (Stevenson)
74mins: Māori All Blacks 17 Ireland 25
The Maoris will have to see out the remainder of this game with 14 men, as Shaun Stevenson is sent to the line after he sticks out a hand to try intercept a Carbery pass and is pinged for a deliberate knock-on.
TRY – Māori All Blacks 17 Ireland 30 (Larmour)
79mins: Māori All Blacks 17 Ireland 30
Larmour crosses for his second try of the game after a sharp pass from Stuart McCloskey. Frawley’s conversion gets caught by the breeze but that should be that for Ireland. Michael Bent is also on to see out the last few minutes. Who saw that one coming a few weeks ago?
TRY – Māori All Blacks 24 (Weber) Ireland 30
80mins: Māori All Blacks 24 Ireland 30
Another Maori try from nothing, which came from another brilliant Ruben Love break. He’s been excellent since coming on. Weber applies the finishing touch and the score is converted but that will be that in Wellington.
FULL-TIME
Full-time in Wellington, and a six-point win for Ireland. Some really encouraging performances, with Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes and Kieran Treadwell all enjoying strong outings, while Jordan Larmour crossed twice and Ciarán Frawley recovered from a slow start to play an important part in a strong team performance.
That’s all from us this morning, thanks for joining our live coverage. We’ll have a full match report and all the reaction from Wellington on site shortly courtesy of our man in Wellington, Garry Doyle.
A really encouraging outing for Ireland, but now it’s all eyes on Saturday’s third Test.
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Ireland maori all blacks Minute-by-Minute