On the same day his Wales team-mates Gareth Davies, Kristian Dacey, Tomas Francis and Cory Hill were called up to Gatland’s squad, Halfpenny’s six penalties and conversion of Maro Itoje’s try gave his team a much-needed win as he ended the game with a faultless 20 points.
A penalty try had put the Lions on the path to success and this was impressive stuff from the tourists just a week before their first Test with the All Blacks.
The forwards dominated their opponents, with Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton controlling the game and Halfpenny punishing any opposition mistakes.
They limited the Maori – who selected an electric back division – to just 10 points via a Liam Messam try and five points from the boot of the quiet Damian McKenzie.
Once the pre-match mist had cleared in Rotorua, the Lions started well and with Sexton and Halfpenny both stepping in as first receiver, two penalties from the latter put Gatland’s men into an early 6-0 lead.
Two poor kicks from full-back James Lowe summed up the Maori’s early struggles, but they were then given a soft way back into the game.
Nehe Milner-Skudder’s chip through wasn’t dealt with by either Halfpenny or the retreating George North, and Messam hacked on to dot down. McKenzie converted.
Halfpenny’s third penalty, following a scintillating break from his Wales team-mate Jonathan Davies, put the Lions back ahead, but a tight encounter then saw the tourists once again concede an easily prevantable three points.
After the Maori won a scrum, Itoje’s throwing away of the ball allowed McKenzie to benefit with a well-struck three points.
The Lions should have converted Davies’ scything run into a try, but to their credit they were moving the ball from touchline to touchline with confidence. Sexton was at the heart of that, and with the Maori coughing up penalties on a regular basis, Halfpenny was happy to take the points.
A fourth penalty from the Wales and Toulon star made it 12-10 to the Lions at the break.
The second half began as the first had ended, Halfpenny kicking his fifth penalty and with the Maori unable to stay on the right side of Jaco Peyper’s whistle, they soon fell further behind. Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s high tackle on Halfpenny saw him sent for 10 minutes in the sin bin and the Lions capitalised.
After Jamie George had a try ruled out, the Lions opted for a scrum after winning a penalty, a huge shove ending with Peyper going under the sticks for a penalty try.
As had been the case in Wales’ win over Tonga 24 hours earlier, the conversion was given automatically. It made the score 22-10 and gave the Lions a healthy lead they soon extended.
With their pack going well – as it has done all tour – a pushover try ended with Itoje crossing the line and Halfpenny making it six from six with the conversion.
Kerr-Barlow returned to the field just before the hour mark, but by that time the damage had been done and the Lions were now finding their feet.
Gatland’s forwards were enjoying the contest and Sam Warburton’s introduction for captain Peter O’Mahony only served to give the Lions fresh legs.
Victory by then had been secured, but Halfpenny made sure with yet another kick at goal just minutes after Gatland had withdrawn Murray and Sexton from the fray with the first Test in mind.
