DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017: Post-Maori

Rightly billed as the ‘fourth Test match’ in the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, The Lions were delighted to emerge triumphant from their trip to Rotorua with a convincing victory over the Maori All Blacks, 32-10.

Outside of the actual Test matches the game against the Maori All Blacks has huge historical significance, dating back to 1930 – even though unofficial matches took place in 1904 and 1908 – and always features as one of the highlights of the Tour.

Since winning their first-ever official fixture back in 1930, the British & Irish Lions have enjoyed a strong record against the Maori All Blacks with just the single defeat.

That loss came in 2005 when an inspired Carlos Spencer saw the Maori All Blacks to victory, but there are plenty of positive memories for The Lions to consider from that 87-year history of rivalry.

And nothing changed in Rotorua with an atmosphere to be cherished and a match that lived up to all its billing.

The match also gave The Lions coach Warren Gatland the chance for a dress rehearsal with his Test line-up and you can be sure many of the 23 that took on the Maori All Blacks will feature when The Lions finally meet New Zealand at Eden Park on 24 June.

Solid defence

The 32-10 victory was built – like the victory over the Crusaders a week earlier – on The Lions’ powerful pack and their suffocating defence. A combination that helped Saracens to their European Rugby Champions Cup victory with a large contingent from the men in black expected to feature in the Test series.

At the match – which gave The Lions a record win over the Maori All Blacks - the first the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 replacements were on the side lines after having been called up by Gatland the night before.

The honor of becoming a Lion was given to Scotland duo Finn Russell and Alan Dell while Welsh quartet Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies and Tomas Francis also joined the squad.

Dell summed up the feelings of the six when he said: “Hearing the news it hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m absolutely delighted and I’m sure a bit later I’ll have some really good emotion.”

The victory over the Maori doesn’t mean the Test 23 is set – far from it, as coach Gatland explained. “If you look at 2013, we made nine changes between the three Tests, players have to stay on form and be positive, be confident. I think these guys are really up for it,” Gatland said.

“We won’t sit down as a coaching team to pick the team until Wednesday and I think that’s only fair to the players taking the field on Tuesday night.

“They’ve got to go out there and perform and know that a good performance will count for a lot towards the end of the Tour.”

Historic haka

And proving that the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 is about far more than the on-field action, it is about life-long friendships and creating memories, scores of Lions fans helped creating a new record for the number of people performing a haka.

In total around 7,700 people took part in a haka on the Lakeside Village Green in Rotorua, to break the previous official record of 4,028 people which was set in France in 2014.

Maori All Blacks (10): J Lowe; N Milner-Skudder, M Proctor, C Ngatai, R Ioane; D McKenzie, T Kerr-Barlow; K Hames, A Dixon (capt), B May, J Wheeler, T Franklin, A Ioane, E Dixon, L Messam.

Replacements: H Elliot, C Eves, M Renata, L Price, K Pryor, B Hall, I West, R Thompson.

Try: Messam Con: McKenzie Pen: McKenzie

Lions (32): L Halfpenny (Wales); A Watson (England), J Davies (Wales), B Te'o (England), G North (Wales); Sexton, C Murray (both Ireland); M Vunipola, J George (both England), T Furlong (Ireland), M Itoje, G Kruis (both England), P O'Mahony (capt), S O'Brien (both Ireland), T Faletau (Wales).

Replacements: K Owens (Wales), J McGrath (Ireland), K Sinckler (England), I Henderson (Ireland), S Warburton (Wales), G Laidlaw (Scotland), D Biggar (Wales), E Daly (England).

Tries: Penalty try*, Itoje Con: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 6

Fixtures to come..

All kick offs 8:35 a.m. (UK and Ireland time)

Tuesday 20 June – Chiefs (Hamilton)

Saturday 24 June – New Zealand (Auckland)

Tuesday 27 June – Hurricanes (Wellington)

Saturday 1 July – New Zealand (Wellington)

Saturday 8 July – New Zealand (Auckland)