Blood & Mud

The Great Haka Debate, part 1,243: To respond, or not to respond?

Graham Henry, New Zealand coach and current holder of the World's Most Miserable Man (Southern Region) title, has piped up about the Welsh response to the Haka last week, saying, "They thought that was the best way to respond.  I hope there's no copycat situation. It was interesting at the time but it's time to move on and be sensible."  Of course, 15 grown men dancing about is eminently sensible isn't it?

But, it's not just Henry who's got the hump. Ma'a Nonu has voiced his opinion as well. 

"It was really hard. The haka is a war dance. If you're going to stand there like that then in the past people would have charged, but it's a rugby match and you can't do that."   Said the man who used to play in eyeliner and yellow highlights.  "People back home will have been hurt by what they decided to do. Standing in the way like they did is asking for a fight." 

So what is the Haka then?  I don't pretend to know a great deal about Moari culture, but isn't a "War Dance" something you use before a fight?  The whole point of the Haka is to lay down a challenge, it is the equivalent of taking off your coat and watch and asking someone to step outside so quite why it is seen as improper for the Welsh to ask for a fight in return is a bit lost on me.  The Kiwis should be thankful the Welsh boys didn't take the usual approach of telling them "me and you are gonna dance, proper like" before glassing them.

As rugby fans, we all love the haka.  It lasts about 40 seconds and it's a great spectacle for the spectators and a great psyching-up exercise for the All Blacks.  However, the fact is the Haka is not the national anthem, not all of the people of New Zealand are Maoris even, and the All Blacks certainly do not have the right to dictate how people should respond to it.  After all, it wasn't so long ago that it looked more like the hokey-cokey than a terrifying challenge and symbol of national pride.

The Welsh response last week made for electrifying entertainment, and ultimately that is what rugby is all about.  England will no doubt do what they want, and so they should.

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The Great Haka Debate, part 1,243: To respond, or not to respond?

Graham Henry, New Zealand coach and current holder of the World's Most Miserable Man (Southern Region) title, has piped up about the Welsh response to the Haka last week, saying, "They thought that was the best way to respond.  I hope there's no copycat situation. It was interesting at the time but it's time to move on and be sensible."  Of course, 15 grown men dancing about is eminently sensible isn't it?

But, it's not just Henry who's got the hump. Ma'a Nonu has voiced his opinion as well. 

"It was really hard. The haka is a war dance. If you're going to stand there like that then in the past people would have charged, but it's a rugby match and you can't do that."   Said the man who used to play in eyeliner and yellow highlights.  "People back home will have been hurt by what they decided to do. Standing in the way like they did is asking for a fight."