APV1 says...

I've just been and grabbed this from one of my earlier posts - a Loose Pass article - concerning the haka. Still hold true for me and might be an answer to montyRN's suggestion of Morris Dancers:

"I remember feeling quite jealous at not having a similar "war dance", being English and all that. So just before one match we lined up on the 10m line and performed Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Good warm up, good for morale (I'll accept it wasn't the most ferocious dance) and we went on to win. Sticks on a pitch and bells on knees just won't cut it in this professional era, so perhaps this would be an acceptable alternative?"

And for some reason my link to the Hewitt : Cockrill haka moment was missed from my last post, so here it is (hopefully!) again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfX5G3jIXWQ

If it's been censored, look it up on a well-know video web site, just type in "Norm Hewitt"...

Great stuff lads!

Posted 15:15 25th October 2011

AJPaarl says...

I would really like them to point out in the law book that any team cant go over the half line before the game started or when the AB is busy with the haka. Just curiouz

Posted 14:02 25th October 2011

zumazap says...

Trinats, yaaawwnn, you can only be an Australian stuck on a sheep farm living with your mom in the outback to find that funny... You owe me 2:40 of my life!

Posted 13:53 25th October 2011

AJPaarl says...

Guys take it slow.lol

Posted 13:44 25th October 2011

atg77 says...

I'm getting pretty tired of NZ whining about their Haka which isnt really even theirs to whine about anyway. It is a Maori tradition, nothing to do with white european settlers. I think it isnt right that white New Zealanders are trying to pass it off as part of their own culture. Fair enough when the NZ maori play, but not the All Blacks. Tell me how many Maori players are in the All Blacks?

Posted 13:25 25th October 2011

montyRN says...

Mental. Absolutely mental.

NZ support this - IRB are so precious over the Haka. Every time in the past someone puts their own challenge down, the ABs and kiwis (including the 'elders' for wont of a better term) think it's great, answer a challenge with a challenge.

@jmanngod

Agree the 'poms almost got themselves bashed' but I remember Norm Hewitt going toe to tow with Richard Cockerill and saying it was the best reaction to the Haka he'd ever experienced. Yes, England got humped afterwards, but I just don't get the IRB on this.

Fine someone if they do something out of order / disrespectful - was it Campese who ignored it and did kicking practice?

Or my lot could simply do a Morris Dance in response to the ABs, Fijians, Tongans, Samoans et al. Would about sum up how they've been playing recently...

Posted 12:53 25th October 2011

Itsasoa says...

Calm down guys, France is not fined for responding the Haka but for walking beyond the 50m line. As I am French myself, I think the fine is stupid because they did not go that further as some bleus wanted... but if there is nothing done about it, it will end up with a team touching the ABs during the haka which could be in the end a bit irrespectful. mmmm actually, there are lots of stupid things there:

(i) the rule of standing 15m away: they should be allowed to go 2m, like in 2007

(ii) the fine, because they did respect the ABs themselves and the ABs liked it

(iii) the kapa o pango which is -sorry- ridiculous and far from a "authentic" haka

(iv) the ka mate with the tongues, it is completely ridiculous

(v) the way Ali Williams performs both haka (remember 2007 quarter final especially)

(vii) most ABs backwards look like young european high school boys, a bit fashioned (Justin Bieber?) and not really "warriors" (I add: even though they are probably the best backwards in the world)

I enjoy much much much more national anthem, songs and choirs, that is personnal of course, especially the anthem of Walles which is the most beautiful anthem, especially when performed a capella in Cardiff ...

Posted 12:22 25th October 2011

BokVanDam says...

Don't mess with the IRB's precious marketing tool. How can they market the game when there are red, green, blue or white jerseys in the picture? Everyone knows only the All Blacks are allowed to be in the marketing picture, pulling faces and sticking out tongues. Every other team must know it's place, which is anywhere as long as it's out of the marketing picture and out of the way of the all blacks.

Posted 12:21 25th October 2011

Rosbif says...

@ hayj05. sorry. didn't see your post before sending mine. Must be a time-lag web-update thing from NH to SH.

We don't hate the ABs. It's the IRB who are ruining our game. Seems NZ public agree given the % votes you mention. Asking for a whip-round seems a bit mean. Surely a petition is enough. Get the numbers. Pressure the IRB. Get them to apologise and retract their fine. End the tournament on a good note. Now that would be a real happy ending! NZers would have drinks bought for them in all the pubs and cafes across the rugby world.....

Posted 11:47 25th October 2011

Rosbif says...

OK. Mr. Darren Shand. Kudos to you for coming out and saying what you think. The world agrees. But talk is cheap. Why not write a cheque for £2,500 to the FFR. With an open letter from the NZRFU, saying you want no part in the IRB''s ridiculous decision, and that you are disgusted by it.

Is that so hard to do?

A final thought. While you're at it, IRB should ban the after-game celebratory haka. Or introduce an equivalent new law allowing your opponents to dance a jig in front of you when they win. Before they've let you out of the ground. See how it feels. Fair's fair.

Imagine. Waltzing Matilda @ Suncorp with 15 ABs stuck on the field of play with nowhere to hide. Now I'd persoanlly pay £2,500 to see that....

Posted 11:40 25th October 2011