FEARLESS: Sean O'Brien was a star performer for the British and Irish Lions. PHOTO: photosport
Who were the top performers in Rotorua on Saturday night?
PETER WHITE rates his top three players from both sides.
British and Irish Lions
Maro Itoje
If you add the athleticism and physique of a 400m runner with a burning desire to win you have one heck of a player. That is Maro Itoje. He dominated the lineouts and was a constant threat with ball in hand.
He deservedly scored one of the Lions' tries and looks a definite inclusion in the first test against the All Blacks next Saturday.
Jonny Sexton
With Owen Farrell suffering a leg injury, Ireland's finest first-five chose the opening 20 minutes to show off his running game. And what an impression he made as the Maori defence drifted across, expecting him to shovel the ball along the backline.
His combination with Ben Te'o and Jonathan Davies was a highlight of the opening stages. Clearly he is not just a kicker and passer which adds an extra dilemma for defences. In this form he may push Farrell hard for that test jersey in the tests to come.
Sean O'Brien
Tour captain Sam Warburton is still not at his very best so Ireland's fearless openside flanker has taken every opportunity to show he deserves the No 7 jersey against the All Blacks. Against the Crusaders and the Maori All Blacks he was superb on defence with a similar approach to knocking over the ball carrier to Sam Cane. In a word, ruthless.
The Lions could do worse than start the fiery O'Brien next week in Auckland and have Warburton on the bench. Either way they are in a healthy position with their openside options.
Maori All Blacks
Liam Messam
The local Rotorua boy scored the opening try and defended around the fringes with his usual vigour. The bigger the stage the better he plays and this was certainly the biggest crowd he has ever played in front of in his home town.
Sadly for Messam the result took the shine off his performance but he should be pleased with his 80 minutes. Life in the old dog yet.
Tom Franklin
The boy from Eastern Bay of Plenty who made his name at Otago and the Highlanders has signed for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup. Good news for the Steamers as against the Lions he was a force in the lineouts and rucks with a love of running with the ball.
The second half demise of the Maori All Blacks was certainly not down to him, especially having to battle with a man down after Tawera Kerr Barlow's yellow card that changed the match.
Ash Dixon
No one felt the loss to the Lions more than the eloquent, likeable leader of the Maori All Blacks but his gracious words post-match left a positive impression with the hardened British press corps.
The lively hooker had a fine all-round game, accurate at the lineout and tackled his heart out as the game drifted away from his side like the mist across the stadium.
