Ireland punished by Maori All Blacks as experimental side lose in Hamilton

Ireland suffered a punishing start to their tour of New Zealand after an experimental side were dismantled by the dominant Maori All Blacks in Hamilton.

Andy Farrell fielded five uncapped players for the warm-up match and was left with plenty to ponder following a resounding 32-17 defeat.

Zarn Sullivan and Josh Ioane starred for the masterly Maoris, who ran in four first-half tries, while scores from stand-in skipper Bundee Aki and Gavin Coombes were scant consolation for the Irish.

Head coach Farrell will quickly turn his attention to Saturday’s opening Test of a three-match series with the formidable All Blacks in Auckland, where he will field a much-changed team and hope for a far greater showing.

Few, if any, of his fringe players emerged with much credit from a cool, wet evening at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Back-rower Coombes was arguably the star performer, while uncapped prop Jeremy Loughman, in-form centre James Hume and replacement Cian Healy each departed with injuries to add to Ireland’s woes.

Loughman lined up alongside fellow international rookies Ciaran Frawley, Jimmy O’Brien, Joe McCarthy and Cian Prendergast in a starting XV which contained just three men with more than six Test caps.

Ahead of kick-off, New Zealand-born Aki laid a number 11 Ireland jersey in front of the Haka in memory of former Maori All Black Sean Wainui, who was killed in a car crash last year.

Frawley, who kicked seven points during the contest, traded early penalties with rival fly-half Ioane as both sides attempted to get to grips with slippery conditions which contributed heavily to possession frequently changing hands.

Sullivan dived over on the right for the opening try in the 17th minute after his perfectly weighted 50:22 kick had