Former Munster man Rua Tipoki gives Ireland an insight into the Maoris

Ireland play the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton on Wednesday night and who better than Tipoki to turn to in order to get the inside track on the psyche of the opposition

MAORI MAN: Rua Tipoki in action for Munster against New Zealand in 2008 at Thomond Park, Limerick. Pic: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

Rua Tipoki had been here before, wearing one jersey and explaining what it felt like to pull on the opposition’s colours. And whether the centre was telling his fellow Maori what it meant to play for Munster, or offering the same insight to an eager-to-learn Ireland squad, the message was remarkably similar.

Ireland play the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton on Wednesday night to get their first New Zealand tour in 10 years underway and who better than Tipoki to turn to in order to get the inside track on the psyche of the opposition.