James Lowe won't be making friends with future Leinster teammates when Maori All Blacks play the Lions

James Lowe’s blood ties to the Maori All Blacks precluded him from making friends with future Leinster team-mate Johnny Sexton when the British and Irish Lions fly-half faced off against him this morning.

Lowe, 24, will join the Irish province from the Chiefs at the end of the Super Rugby season this summer but not before he has represented the Maori against the out-half who will be responsible for feeding his appetite for try-scoring.

Normally a wing, he will start at full-back against the Lions, as regular Chiefs full-back Damian McKenzie takes the helm at out-half and Lowe is expecting plenty of work under the high ball from Sexton. “Oh, he can kick the ball, can’t he?” the lively Lowe said of the Ireland star.