posted Nov 29, 2008

The Haka is a challenge being laid down to the oppostion. Therefore there would appear to be 2 logical responses.
Cower down in the face of it and run-away or respond by accepting the challenge and making your own challenge in response.
I thought the Welsh did this superbly, the faced it and issued a challenge in return.
If the All Blacks do not want a response to the Haka then either don't do it, or do it in the changing room (remember that from last time).
You could argue that it is almost like them being allowed to sign 2 national anthems if no response is permited. They maybe allowed to get away with that at home, but at an away match why shoud they be given that privilige over the Home team.
And finally, as 69trooper said before me, if the master Zinzan Brooke says the only response to the Haka is to face it up, then who are we to diagree.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

Expecting your opposition to stand there and be intimidated, and to get upset when they refuse, is ridiculous and audacious. You could argue that it was a war dance, but if it was still, Wales would have been going for the kill, not standing back with their tails between their legs.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

The Welsh response was appropriate and respecting - I wonder if the 4 Samoans, 2 Fijians and the Tongan in the current All Black squad feel as agrieved as Nonu.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

Outrageous by the All Blacks to claim disrespect!

The Haka intimidates many a team, what are the opposition meant to do? As the commentator put it, it was a challenge accepted (though not delivered) by the Welsh. I hope England stand up to them (in both senses) today.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

There's a very simple way England can respond to the Haka today, Mooning!!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

Time to tell the Kiwis that our team will acknowledge either their National Anthem or the Haka but not both, and let them choose. That presents them with a dilemma which it is high time they faced.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

The Haka is a fantastic expression of New Zealand culture. But in this tour and the World Cup it is in danger of becoming a parady of its former glory. The Haka should either be confined to test matches or only performed at New Zealand grounds. It has become over-indulged and over-commercialised as part of brand "All Blacks". It is ridiculous for Henry and the other prima-donnas wearing the black jersey to complain they are not respected when they are performing national dance on another nation's territory. Would the crowd at Eden Park be stunned into respectful silence if a visiting England team started the match with a Morris Dance? Or if the Irish national team warmed up with River Dance?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Nov 29, 2008

Haka is great expression agreed. But "not respecting" the Haka complete joke. Was it the Scotland team that blew them kisses? Did that show disrespect, probably, staring them down just showed some spirit.

Expecting your opposition to show deference before the kick off is arrogance in the extreme. No wonder they're so good.....

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Dec 2, 2008

Once again I was at the match and thought that the English singing when the haka was being done was fantastic. I could only hear very faintly the odd word.

It occured to me, again, as it had the previous week, that it must take pretty enormous mental strength to lay down such a challenge in a stadium of 80,000 where a couple of 1000 ( tops ) are on your side.

Nobody got too het up, Thank God, although as soon as it dawned on me that the ref was Alain Roland I wasn't expecting too much flowing rugby. Shame about the yellows too.

As usual I was a ( vocal ) minority in the stand but we all agreed that Mr Roland isn't the best thing to hit refereeing and that there is no reason - at least to the bystander - why Jimmy Cowan should be playing ahead of Weepu ( who has a posterior bigger than J Lo it has to be said ). I had limited success explaining that New Zealand does comprise a group of islands in the south pacific ( hence the brown faces in the squad ) despite having the foresight to smuggle in a map of the world and powerpoint presentation on migration patterns in New Zealand since 1965. Try as I might, I still can't find the South Sea Islands as a geopolitical grouping outside of Treasure Island or Tintin books.

And Mr Nonu - he of the comment which has provided so much ammunition for the disgruntled along with Henry and ( well I'm struggling to think of any other ABs who have had a problem with the respoonse to the haka )- had the last laugh.

I think the French team paying the filthy lucre to Dan Carter may be in the market for a place kicker - his chip pass was genius though.

A satisfactory end to a Tour which has had it's fair share of controversy, generated mostly by the press.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Dec 7, 2008

the welsh fans certainly dont disrespect the hakka. if u noticed there was and never is any booing from the welsh fans! they cheer it ,and i as a welsh fan think the hakkas great. the welsh players also didnt dishonour the hakka like some have in the past by walkinh right up to the blacks ,but instead held they ground which intensiefied the attmosphere. personna;ly i think the welsh players should have sang men of harlech in response. it was an awesome attmosphere and the welsh fans love the hakka and it was all a bit of showtime. isnt that what the game should be all about? as im sure if someone had watched that as their first ever game of rugby, it would have put a smile on their face. surly thats what its all about.

add comment | complain about this comment