‘This is box office stuff!’ – Rieko Ioane LEADS All Blacks haka for first time after being booed by crowd following Johnny Sexton spat
Rieko Ioane leading the haka ahead of All Blacks' game against Ireland in 2024.
Rieko Ioane was given the honour of leading the haka for the first time as Ireland followed England’s example by accepting the challenge and walking forward.
The speedster’s involvement in this clash has been an intriguing subplot heading into the match following his clash with Johnny Sexton at the end of last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Ioane was booed by some sections of the Ireland crowd when his name was read out and during the war dance.
He was leading the haka in the absence of Codie Taylor, who was ruled out of the encounter after suffering a head injury against England.
Some on social media felt that it was done on purpose from the All Blacks after the centre’s spat with Sexton, but he was always likely to take over irrespective of their opponents.
World Cup controversy
The players came to blows after the 2023 last-eight contest, which New Zealand claimed 28-24, but it was reignited recently after extracts of the Ireland legend’s book were released.
In it, Sexton detailed why he reacted the way he did after the match.
“I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarter-final back. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t need to. I’ve mentally replayed every second, over and over,” the former fly-half wrote in his autobiography Obsessed.
“It finishes the same way every time. Rónan Kelleher still ploughs into Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. Whitelock goes in for the poach, clearly without releasing, but somehow Wayne Barnes awards him the penalty, even though it has all happened under his nose — and it’s all over.
“And as I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, ‘Get back ten metres.’
“‘Huh?’
“‘Penalty,’ he says. ‘Back ten.’ And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c***.’
“So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no d***heads’ policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f****r. It doesn’t look great, me having a go at one of them just after we’ve lost. But I can’t be expected to ignore that.”
Ioane’s response
Ioane then doubled down, putting up a post on Instagram which had The Cranberries song ‘Zombie’ – Ireland’s unofficial anthem at the World Cup – being played in the background with the lyrics ‘in you head’ being repeated.
Since then, it has built up nicely to this mouth-watering clash and it resulted in another thrilling haka.
Ioane led it and, just like England the week before, Ireland advanced, resulting in the crowd roaring them on.
Mana 😤
Rieko Ioane leads Kapa o Pango for the first time 🔥#AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/6KOa7xW0iA
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 8, 2024
“Rieko Ioane leading the Haka, buckle up is it’s going to be a good one,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter, while another user added: “Rieko Ioane leading the HAKA? This is box office stuff folks!!”
Ioane struggled to get involved early in the contest but, when he did, the centre was smashed by opposite number Garry Ringrose, to the delight of the supporters.
