Haka an unfair advantage for All Blacks

It is a completely unfair psycological, and, may I add, unsporting, advantage. When I saw the beginning of the Boks-a.b. match on Saturday I felt honestly disgusted to see how one rugby team were obliged to stand and watch and be intimidated as the New Zealand rugby team were allowed to perform their macho war ritual... This is not sport in the spirit of sportsmanship. Isn't it enough that N.Z. are placed in a group with hardly another major team to oppose them? England have been criticised but honestly... if only two can progress from a group that contains Wales and Australia.. one of them must fall... To me it feels like n.z. have been handed this world cup on a plate.. from the start... and as an afterword.. I seem to recall that one time England opted out by turning their backs to the haka they were crticised as being unsporting!!

What a load of crap. Can people not embrace what has been going on for many years? To lay it out on the table, the All Blacks have been so successful for a long time, that now the whingers are taking away how well they play the game. With or without the haka, they are brillant. It is tradition, and I hope is carried on for a long time to come.

Mate,I've lived in Australia for 28 years and have to say that Australians, but not all, are the biggest sledging whingers you'll find. when they're winning, they're grinning but when they lose the blame game begins. They, like a a lot of sport crazy nations have their fanatical one eyed supporters that lose the plot and the game of sport takes a back seat. I have seen mates from both sides of the ditch nearly come to blows during a game between the AB's an Wallabies, albiet in a pub, sport with grog? As supporters we should just enjoy the game and any personal hang up we have about an opposition, leave it at home. As for the Haka, seems like a minority have a personal problem with it, if it bugs you, dont watch it ! !

On the slitting of throats, check the translation of the French Amthem, motivation European Style, here is a portion: The roaring of these fierce soldiers They come right to our arms To slit the throats of our sons, our friends... Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors... Spare these sad victims, Regretfully arming against us. But not these bloodthirsty despots, But not these accomplices of Bouillé, All of these animals who, without pity, Tear their mother's breast to pieces!

I'm a wallabies fan, but I think the haka is great and good for the game. It has a truly enigmatic quality and this is the reason for this fierce debate. As far as giving the All Blacks advantage, this may be true but only if you play good rugby to back it up, and most of the time, New Zealand do this. The best response an opposition team can give is responding with good, aggressive rugby, and this is what the wallabies did last weekend-they were so good! I honestly haven't seen them play so well since they won the world cup in '99. I think the Wallabies can win-exciting!

Not surprised to read all this Kiwi sanctimony telling us to harden the 'F-k up' and that we are sore losers. This may well be sound advice but coming from Kiwis who revel in taking the high morale ground over Australia, it is the ultimate in hypocrisy surely, for nowhere on the planet does there exist a collective culture of bleating whinge exponents than in NZ.

Agree with you rugbygirl!

haha, is this really Quade Cooper writing this?? Because he looked scared enough the other night to tweet something pathetic like this. (though he would've actually learned how to do the haka himself as a kid from Tokoroa, same also with "dingo deans") To be honest, I think Aussie blokes' biggest problems with the NZ haka are: 1. Its another excuse for losing 2. their Aussie wives/girlfriends are secretly fantasizing about an AB doing the haka for them 3. They don't understand it. This article is just out-right ignorant and racist, and you should do some research before writing such garbage. Visit NZ and stay on a Marae, be welcomed by a haka and perhaps try and understand it a bit more. But before you do all that, do it in your own country by embracing the Aboriginal culture a bit more, then you might get it. Our haka is as much a part of NZ as rugby itself is, and yes you just have to deal with it. The haka has been led to many misconceptions (mostly by Australians interestingly enough) Haka are not exclusively war dances or performed only by men. Some are performed by women, others by mixed groups, and some simple haka are performed by children. Haka are performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements or occasions. Rugby League, Basketball and Hockey all perform the Haka also so check your facts there. For you uncultured Aussies who think its all just a way to try and intimidate Australians, when it comes down to it its really a tradition of NZ, and one I don't believe we should have to ever let go of. I would be so sad if we were forced to give up such a proud and beautiful tradition. NZ embraces the cultures of its local peoples and the haka makes us proud to be kiwi. I'm also completely moved when the Samoans, Fijians or Tongan's do theirs. Its part of being proud warriors of the South Pacific. Why don't you do the same? I happen to think the Aboriginal dances are quite stunning and uplifting and I think its such a shame that the Australian white man won't respect it or embrace it. Who knows it could start making you play better. Translated to English the traditional Te Rauparaha's 1810 haka goes... It is death, it is death It is life, it is life This is the hairy man Who caused the sun to shine again for me Up the ladder, up the ladder Up to the top The sun shines. The other haka "Kapa o Pango" (which the Aussies kicked up such a huge fuss about) translates like this... All Blacks, let me become one with the land This is our land that rumbles It’s my time! It’s my moment! This defines us as the All Blacks It’s my time! It’s my moment! Our dominance Our supremacy will triumph And be placed on high Silver fern! All Blacks! Silver fern! All Blacks! Nothing mentioned there about killing Australians or slitting anyone's throats. In the words of a well-known Aussie "Harden the F--k up"

Katzilla. Just making the point since Kiwis nearly always assume underdog status in most things v Oz but not so in Union. This is an often understated criteria of great advantage in my opinion. I personally would be ok about limiting the number of Kiwis to fixtures at home, to afford us equity, however this is unlikely to be taken up from a commerce perspective, because you would only fill half of any Ozzie stadia such is the status of the code here. Union survives on the back of Kiwi ex patness in the land of Oz and that we facilitate and indulge them in their primitive obsession, is testament to our liberally catholic approach to sport and culture.

RedsNut, you call the Haka a little d a n c e. This DANCE as you call it has been going on for a VERY VERY VERY long time, and back then no one had clouded vision and enjoyed it for what it brings to the game, a challenge. Boy you nit pick at every thing. Get over yourself why don;t ya.

Jamie, the first time I heard Waltzing Matilda sung at a rugby test, I thought it was a joke. it was rather an embarsement than a motivator.

There's only one problem with an Aboriginal war dance and that is that traditional Aboriginal society was kin group based and not tribal like Maori and Islander cultures. For this reason the Maori were able to put up significant resistance to the invaders, whereas Aboriginal resistance was sporadic and localised. War was virtually unknown in Aboriginal society, so it is likely that no such thing as war dances existed. Give up on the idea of Australian riposte to the Haka, as seen with the John Williamson debacle it will just turn into another joke. Concentrate on the fundamentals of growing the game in this country.

I liked that nice boy John Williams and that pretty little number Waltzing Matilda. I'm sure it really motivated the Wallabies (and left the opposition in stitches).

Read the article, loved it. I am an AB supporter all the way. The challenge is laid before you when they perform the Haka. Because you have witnessed this first hand is commendable. Thanks. Tired of those going on about the Haka. Kia Kaha ABS.

Perhaps crowds should not cheer, as that's an unfair advantage to teams with louder crowds. Perhaps we should ensure you have a plaster for the booboo left on your psyche from the hiding your team just got!

To all the kiwis out there I feel like apologising for the lunatic ramblings of some australians ( not confined to this site) who just can't handle defeat in an appropriate manner The AB's..Well done to great team, I can't wait for our guys to have a crack next time and I will cheer just as loudly to beat you as I always have .However some just need to find excuses. sometimes and only sometimes I feel embarrassed by my fellow countrymen. This is one of those times

Thanks Gals Good article by someone who never gives an inch - TPN I remember my first introduction to the haka as a player, playing a touring kiwi Army side. The players did the haka, and it was provocative - my mate, a kiwi couldn't quite mentally prepare us for the impact of the haka. We played rugby, they played with intensity and passion. And when the haka was nearly over - their brothers on the sideline had narrowed the wing and virtually joined the challenge. A great intimidating tactic. It was a good match, and an experience. One you only appreciate at the coal face.

I think there are two ways to deal with it. You can ignore it (like I think the Wallabies have done before, and look where it got them), or get right up in their faces (like the Boks did years ago). I think both have merit. If someone is trying to intimidate you, you can answer the challenge, or you can negate it by ignoring it. Either way the ABs are a fantastic team who get the job done anyway!

We've done that once already mate 1987 and without sounding arrogant, I really can't see the All Blacks not doing it again this year. Your lot can go back to history all you want, but not this time. To be fair to the Wallabies, they remind me of the All Black teams that have failed the last world cups, flashy backs and a good but soft forward pack. I've already placed my bets for an All Black v England final. Mark my words, they will squeeze the life out of your pack in the semis buddy. So put your money where your mouth is Warren.

Brother, he was brought up in Nz but came over to Australia when he was like 15. So he would've been too young then, he's only just become a sensation, I couldnt imagine that he was much of a player back then.