5 Nov 2016

Māori ABs vanquish US Eagles

6:00 pm on 5 November 2016

James Lowe and Akira Ioane each scored two tries as the Māori All Blacks vanquished the USA Eagles 54-7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Maori All Backs captain Ash Dixon on the charge in the match against the USA at Toyota Park in Chicago.

Maori All Backs captain Ash Dixon on the charge in the match against the USA at Toyota Park in Chicago. Photo: PhotoSport

Look back at Jamie Wall's match commentary here

The American national team could only manage one try to the Māori's eight.

The Eagles missed an opportunity to open the scoring when captain Todd Clever went for the line with an unmarked player outside him.

The mistake allowed left wing Lowe to be first on the scoreboard in the 10th minute, dotting down in the corner after a surging run and pop pass from number eight Akira Ioane.

Ioane then scored the Māori's second on his own from a well worked move at the front of the line out.

Lowe scored his second in the 35th minute as centre Matt Proctor collected a chip over the defensive line from first five Ihaia West and popped it up for Lowe.

James Lowe scores for the Maori All Blacks at Soldier Field, 2016.

James Lowe scores for the Maori All Blacks at Soldier Field, 2016. Photo: Photosport

With Eagle's hooker James Hilterbrand in the sinbin for a cynical ruck infringement, Māori captain Ash Dixon had the final say in the first half, steam rolling over demoralised Eagles defenders to the try line.

Ahead 28-0 at half time, the Māori edged further ahead in the 44th minute with Ioane's second.

The number eight waltzed across the chalk unchallenged from the back of a maul.

Clever then made up for his earlier indiscretion by scoring the Eagles' first try from a wheeling maul.

Unfazed, the Māori executed the play of the day to send prop Kane Hanes on a bullocking run to the try line.

A break and an offload from Akira Ioane found fullback Damian McKenzie looming on the outside who flipped a pass inside to the unmarked Hanes.

Damian McKenzie evades a tackle at Soldier Field, 2016.

Damian McKenzie evades a tackle at Soldier Field, 2016. Photo: Photosport

Replacement halfback Brad Weber knotched the Māori's seventh try with a blindside dart from the base of a maul, before replacement hooker Joe Royal shut the door on the Eagles in the 79th minute with a try from his own sneaky, quick throw in.

Ihaia West kicked six conversions and McKenzie one.

- RNZ