The Haka

[goodgoalie]

I think it's high time the performing by New Zealand of the haka - and the versions by other teams like Samoa and Fiji - was kicked into touch. Why should the All Blacks be allowed to pump themselves up both physically and emotionally, thus gaining a significant advantage, while the opposing team have to stand behind the half-way line and meekly 'accept the challenge'?

It amounts to a sort of condoned gamesmanship, and is a blatant intimidation of the opposition, particularly the versions which involve the performers advancing with throat-slitting gestures. And before anyone mentions 'culture' and 'identity', I fully understand that aspect of it, but if the All Blacks want to assert and celebrate their heritage they are quite at liberty to hype themselves up by performing the haka (or anything else they choose) in the privacy of their dressing-room.

[mallyh]

i like to see them ...we could do a morris dance back to them :-)

[Sqad]

I disagree totally....the Haka is a part of the sporting entertainment and should be shared by all.

It is unique.

[goodgoalie]

It may well be unique, but it is unfair, and has no place in a sporting contest.

[Ken4155]

In retaliation, we Brits could tut, or hold our noses while wafting away an imaginary smell :-)

[Patsy33]

Lol @ Mallyh..

[Sqad]

goodgoalie.......we will have to agree to disagree.

[MargoTester]

Several sides have been fined for 'disrespecting ' the Hakka eg England formed a V shape and grinned, another time they walked towards New Zealand. This did not actually interrupt the Hakka as such so I'm not sure why they were fined, is there a rule saying the Hakka is sacrosanct

[goodgoalie]

That is part of my point, Margo - the opposing team are obliged to stand still and do nothing in the face of the aggression inherent in the haka.

[New Judge]

I don't know why NZ's opponents don't simply ignore them and just have a warm up at one of the ends. The Haka is puerile nonsense.

[jno]

All Blacks have been performing the haka for more than 100 years; it's a genuine piece of tradition in rugby. Other teams are at liberty to pump themselves up as they please - Morris dancing is the usual suggestion, but wanting to ban the haka just because England hasn't got a proper equivalent of their own is a bit feeble.

Look at this fantastic Tonga v Samoa one, performed right in each others' faces - they they embrace and prepare to play. Beats me why anyone would want to do away with a spectacle like that.

[goodgoalie]

Because they're not allowed to, NJ - that would be 'disrespecting the haka'.

[Peter Pedant]

..we could do a morris dance back to them :-)

well there is a musci video ( 1985) where the girls of a er one of those places ( maison d'occasion) roughly eject their er pimp
but marching forward ( to music) and shimmying at him

and he's off ! in the video ( no slashing with knives or anythinng)

[Peter Pedant]

haka is a ritual replacing war....
so may well be sacred

[royfromaus]

but wanting to ban the haka just because England hasn't got a proper equivalent of their own is a bit feeble.




Why have you singled out England, jno?

[goodgoalie]

Why on earth should England - or any other country - have 'a proper equivalent of their own'?

[MargoTester]

I didn't say it should be banned but tham teams should be allowed to respond if they feel so inclined. Sauce for the goose etc etc

[THECORBYLOON]

Other countries are free to have a cultural challenge if they want to and if they don't want to, that's up to them.

[jno]

because this is about a match being played by England at Twickenham today, roy. Nobody raised the issue before the NZ matches against Wales and Scotland.

[royfromaus]

The OP only mentions the teams that do a version of the haka, it doesn't mention any of the teams that don't.

There's plenty of opposite from many countries.

[albaqwerty]

The Haka is taught in NZ schools, maybe also in Fiji and others.
Personally, I think it should be embraced.
If it's been performed for 100 years, seems a tad late to be chuntering about it.