After surviving a fierce Irish assault for the first half hour, the New Zealand Maoris' superior fitness gave them the edge to romp away with the game in the second-half. In the final, the Maori will face England Saxons, who qualified for the final after beating Scotland 'A' on Tuesday.

Ireland 'A' began strongly, scoring the first try after just three minutes when second-five Darren Cave crashed over from a line-out drive. The deficit was cut by Maori first five Tamati Ellison just two minutes later with a penalt, before the Maori's first attacking raid resulted in a try to winger Hose Gear.

The Irish were to retake the lead when second five Keith Earls ghosted through the defence, but the simple conversion was missed by Johnny Sexton. The Maori then put themselves under further pressure when prop Ben May was yellow carded for a professional foul.

Despite being down to 14 men, the Maori defence was able to hold on, then launch some counter-attacks of their own. In the 31st minute the Irish were split open by an incisive run from Gear, who was stopped centimetres from the goal line, but full-back Shannon Paku was there to claim the try.

It was then the turn of the Irish to dig themselves into a hole, first having half-back Frank Murphy yellow-carded for a professional foul and then allowing Ellison over just a minute later. The conversion from Dwayne Sweeney made the half-time score 24-12.

Things went from bad to worse for Ireland 'A' in the second half as exhaustion set in and the Maori punished them with try after try. Gear recorded his second of the match in the 43rd minute and May atoned for his sin-binning with a try in the 56th minute.