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.
66 mins: Gatland is starting to protect his Test XV now as Sexton and Murray are the latest to be replaced by Biggar and Laidlaw.
68 mins: The Lions get yet another penalty and it's the easiest of the lot for Halfpenny as he maintains his 100% record from the tee. 32-10.
72 mins: Great break from Te'o! He canters through and is just caught at the last chance! He's really put his case forward for a Test place here and it look like it will be he and Davies starting in midfield.
74 mins: Just over five minutes remaining and the Lions have dominated this second half. They will have the momentum going into the first Test, although so do their opponents.
77 mins: The game is sort of petering out here now. We're checking with the TMO if there has been some foul play against O'Brien. The two captains are brought together but nothing comes of it. Scrum to the Maori.
FULL TIME: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
The Lions will be pleased with their second half here. They have stopped the Maori from scoring and have dominated throughout. They will still be concerned they couldn't take their chances against XV but it's a positive performance as a whole.
A number of players have confirmed their Test places today. Other than the ones we knew already, Jonathan Davies and Ben Te'o look to have made certain of their Test places while George North and Leigh Halfpenny will make up two thirds of the back three.
Peter O'Mahony will surely start at six, with George Kruis' lineout supremacy making him a certainty in the second row.
There are still some huge decision for Gatland to make, though. Itoje or Jones? Warburton or O'Brien? Farrell (if fit) or Sexton? Williams or Watson?
Full report
Have a read of the full report and what impact this win will have on the Lions.
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