All Blacks: Why the Haka happens before the Game

LONDON - New Zealand centre Ma'a Nonu has warned England not to copy Wales' dramatic response to the haka when the teams meet at Twickenham this Sunday (NZT).

What to do when the All Blacks are performing their traditional pre-match challenge has often proved a problem for opposition sides.

Last weekend Wales stared down New Zealand after they finished the haka and, with neither side appearing to move, it needed the intervention of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw to end the stand-off as referee Jonathan Kaplan desperately tried to get the game underway.

The unimpressed Tri-Nations champions eventually ran out comfortable 29-9 winners at the Millennium Stadium, a victory that left New Zealand on the brink of a grand slam this weekend after victories earlier this month over both Scotland and Ireland.

Nonu said he suspected Wales coach Warren Gatland, himself a New Zealander, has been behind the haka response which he added would have caused "hurt" to All Black fans watching the match on television at home.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• sports
• talk
• winter
• all
• blacks
• haka
• england
• rugby
• union
• test

[fjbutch]

love to have seen a challenge between rival tribes hundreds of years ago....must have been fierce.....

[MrWiko7]

@bobatdevineuniverse wtf, get some respect you ignorant twat, respect their traditions.., pathetic 

[bumpy783]

Question: What happens if you don't accept that challenge?

Answer: The Maori will just come and kill you anyway.

[HorssingIT]

@flashart k1 champ ray sefo, biggest hitter EVER david tua. The way you speak is as if theres been a good Afro Am. heavy in the past decade lol

[JimTheDj1965]

total respect from scotland to the haka... nothing can beat it...

[khaz1993]

Well back then if you didnt respect the haka, they would of killed you anyways!! That part made me laugh but true story

[20verona]

@86nugget19 That film is mortifyingly sad. And the Haka in that is used at a funeral so I imagine the Haka's meaning in New Zealand tradition has evolved beyond war tradition into something bigger

[flashart]

Can anyone name me a single New Zealand Martial Arts Competitor- let alone Champion ?

Step in the Ring One on One with a 19 year old Mike Tyson -Go 15 Rounds with Mohammed Ali - or Step on the Mat with Royce Gracia - then you can call yourself a 'Warrior.'

[flashart]

I still think it's a act of intimidation designed to pysche out the opposition and give the All Blacks an unfair advantage - which as World Chapions they don't need.

Incidently - If you sung songs like that at a domestic British Game- you'd be jailed for inciting Sectarian Hatred. My second point is that most of the All Black Players are - and have been White Europeans- so for them to claim an 'insult to their heritage ' is absolute garbage.

[ChannelMitchy13]

Drowning out tradition with another tradition is tradition, not doing so means you have no tradition and is a disrespect to others with whom you are supposed to have tradition with. Tradition!

[bettypro]

So the opposing team standing in oppisition while the war cry is going on during a rugby game etc. is a show of acceptance? this woman from Californa is confused on that point. I LOVE the war cry but I loved the english drowing it out (the audience) with thier traditional songs from the watchers..I didnt find it disrespectful at all it was tradition. This is so cool !!! I may just start watching Rugby LOL

[alternativebassist]

@temokam ok I'm looking at the guy making the explanation...and now looking at your comment and I'm thinking that that has to be the stupidest, most blind not to mention arrogant thing I have ever heard! Have a look at the guy; have a good hard look and then take your cultural bigotry, ignorance and stupidity and get a life