How to respond to the Haka ?
Discussion
What is the best response to the Haka? When opposition players and teams ignore it, is it disrespectful?, when it is challenged by facing them down / staring them out it as seen as being too confrontational
It is seen as their traditional right to perform their Maori war dance and intimidate the opposition, the more aggressive throat slitting action has now been banned by the IRB but it's still pretty intimidating and may give them an edge at the start of the game as the opposition just have to stand and "admire" them
I also think it's slightly disingenuous on the part of the more European looking members of the All Blacks since it was white colonisation ( mainly English ) who did their best to kill the Maoris off , grab their lands and spread fatal new diseases amongst them, somewhat akin to the USA performing a red Indian war dance before their games
I've seen a few All Black Hakas at Internationals and even from the back of the top stands it makes the hairs go up on the back of my neck, If I was playing it would probably curb my enthusiasm to go after them in ten seconds and physically have a go
It is seen as their traditional right to perform their Maori war dance and intimidate the opposition, the more aggressive throat slitting action has now been banned by the IRB but it's still pretty intimidating and may give them an edge at the start of the game as the opposition just have to stand and "admire" them
I also think it's slightly disingenuous on the part of the more European looking members of the All Blacks since it was white colonisation ( mainly English ) who did their best to kill the Maoris off , grab their lands and spread fatal new diseases amongst them, somewhat akin to the USA performing a red Indian war dance before their games
I've seen a few All Black Hakas at Internationals and even from the back of the top stands it makes the hairs go up on the back of my neck, If I was playing it would probably curb my enthusiasm to go after them in ten seconds and physically have a go
I can offer a little bit of insight from a players perspective.....back in '93 England played the All Black at Twickenham , we had a decent team and really fancied our chances. The crowd were right up for it!
Anyway...England kept their tracksuits on during the Haka so that after the Haka they returned to the touchline, the idea being they would refocus and not go straight from the Haka into the game. Also during the Haka the crowd sang Swing Low pretty much as an act of confrontation and as loudly as I have ever heard it....which was pretty unusual at the time the Haka was almost "respected".
I used to work with Tony Underwood who played that day....he told me about why England kept their tracksuits on and said the crowd singing over the Haka gave the team a huge mental lift.
England went on to win 15-9 and Jamie Joseph famously trod on a debutant Kyren Bracken's ankle who played a blinder despite being on one leg for most of the game.
Anyway...England kept their tracksuits on during the Haka so that after the Haka they returned to the touchline, the idea being they would refocus and not go straight from the Haka into the game. Also during the Haka the crowd sang Swing Low pretty much as an act of confrontation and as loudly as I have ever heard it....which was pretty unusual at the time the Haka was almost "respected".
I used to work with Tony Underwood who played that day....he told me about why England kept their tracksuits on and said the crowd singing over the Haka gave the team a huge mental lift.
England went on to win 15-9 and Jamie Joseph famously trod on a debutant Kyren Bracken's ankle who played a blinder despite being on one leg for most of the game.
THIS is the very best response to the Hakka ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmy6OaZEAhE
1989, Landsdowne Road... Come on then!
a short talking heads thing
in full
a short talking heads thing
in full
Edited by bigandclever on Monday 12th September 21:09
MR Kirbyz said:
The haka in the last post is terrible! they jump up like a bunch of girls!.
Stare off...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fYIUdVNFgU&feature=related
That is brilliant! Stare off...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fYIUdVNFgU&feature=related
This is like the story from above, singing Swing Low whilst they done the Haka; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN_ggEN4WVg&fea...
Goosebumps from that!
Edited by JonnyFive on Monday 12th September 21:39
Oh and you have to remember that the haka is not purely a song and dance, it's a challenge to the opposition and the best way to respect it is to simply challenge back. Whether this be the opposition staring them out or walking towards them, personally, I'd love to see a team sing their national anthem back with the backing of the fans to drown out the haka.
Frik said:
Is that for real? I still think it looks f
king stupid with white folk doing it. 
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