British and Irish Lions vs Maori All Blacks as it happened: Tourists seize momentum ahead of first Test
Follow the game as it happened from the Rotorua International Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.The British and Irish Lions face the Maori All Blacks in their fifth warm-up match on their tour of New Zealand in what will be their penultimate game before the Test series with the All Blacks. Follow the latest here.
- Maori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions kicks off at 19:35 local time [08:35 BST]
- Warren Gatland recalls a number of Test candidates to face the Maori
- No Owen Farrell with fly-half ruled out through injury
- Johnny Sexton starts at 10, Peter O’Mahony captains the Lions with Sam Warburton on bench
- Maori All Blacks captained by Ash Dixon
- Nehe Milner-Skudder starts on wing, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Reiko Ioane released by All Blacks
Follow the live action below...
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What time does it start?
The Maori All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions kicks off at 19:35 local time [08:35 BST] on Saturday 17 June.
What TV channel is it on?
The match will be shown live on sky Sports 1 from 08:00 BST.
Teams:
Maori All Blacks: James Lowe, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Matt Procter, Charlie Ngatai, Reiko Ioane; Damian McKenzie, Tawere Kerr-Barlow; Kane Hames, Ash Dixon, Ben May; Joe Wheeler, Tom Franklin; Akira Ioane, Elliot Dixon, Liam Messam.
Replacements: Hikawera Elliot, Chris Eves, Marcel Renata, Leighton Price, Kara Pryor, Bryn Hall, Ihaia West, Rob Thompson.
British and Irish Lions: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Ben Te’o, Anthony Watson; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Tadhg Furlong; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Jack McGrath, Kyle Sinckler, Iain Henderson, Sam Warburton, Greig Laidlaw, Dan Biggar, Elliot Daly.
26 mins: Great phases of play there from the Lions. Anthony Watson spoke in the week of how they weren't afraid of aerial challenges and Halfpenny just proved it. His up-and-under was superbly caught and gave Sexton the opportunity to make a wonderful kick to the corner. But discipline lets them down at the lineout.
30 mins: The Lions get a penalty on halfway and kick to the corner. This is what they need to do.
32 mins: Sexton tries a little chip over the top but Te'o but they come back for the penalty. Halfpenny kicks the penalty and it's 12-9.
35 mins: The Lions are penalised at the breakdown again and McKenzie is looking to punish them from inside his own half... but it's wide.
38 mins: Furlong gives away yet another penalty on the floor and the Lions' discipline is coming unstuck here. McKenzie kicks to the corner as they go for a try before half time.
HALF TIME: Maori 10 Lions 12
The Lions go in ahead but it's been far from convincing so far. The Lions have failed to take their chances for tries and have allowed the Maoris to stay in touching distance to them by a combination of poor discipline and sloppy defending.
Jack de Menezes reports pitch-side after the first half:
Well that half has flown by and it's been a very close match so far. The Lions are definitely shading it attacking-wise, though they continue to have problems getting the ball over the line, while the Maori's defence has kept them well in the game. Halfpenny's four penalties have kept the Lions ticking over, but he won't like to look back on the mix-up with George North that led to Liam Messam's try.
Plenty to play for in the second half, and you worry if the Lions are failing to build a lead again. It could come back to haunt them.
42 mins: Discipline has been the Lions' weakness this tour but they've benefitted from it here. They win an early penalty as they did at the start of the first 40 and Halfpenny, as he did,converts from the tee. 15-10.
47 mins: The Lions are putting a bit of pressure on the Maori line here. Halfpenny has taken a whack here from Tawere Kerr-Barlow, who has led with the shoulder. The TMO is looking at it... and it's a yellow card! Kerr-Barlow is in the bin and here is a huge chance for the Lions.
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