Jono warns of midweek surprises

FOUR years have whizzed by since Jono Gibbes enjoyed his moment of glory against the British and Irish Lions. The Leinster forwards coach was captain of the New Zealand Maori for the third game of that ill-fated tour and, with nine All Blacks in the first XV and three more on the bench, it was billed as an unofficial fourth test.

Munster’s Rua Tipoki was part of a back line that boasted talent like Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear and Luke McAlister, while Gibbes scrummed down with Marty Holah and Carl Hayman among others.

The Lions fielded the heaviest front row in their history that day in Hamilton but were still battered into defeat by a ferocious Maori side that claimed a first victory over the famed tourists at the seventh attempt.