Ex Boyne player Niall Ronan played a great game against the NZ Maori today. The new rule interpretation is leading to a faster more open game and this suited Niall who carried well. Ireland came back from 18 - 0 down to go in at 18 all at the break, after getting used to the higher pace required. Displaying a bit more fearlessness on the pitch than he did in the skies, Niall worked the breakdown at the edge and was unlucky to be penalised 3 times by referree Lawrence Bryce, but with more exposure to the new breakdown rules the Irish players will be less likely to infringe. The team were very unlucky to lose out 31 - 28, but many of those will be part of the Irish squad for the 2011 World Cup.