New Zealand rugby league bosses have criticised Australia’s “disrespectful” response to the traditional haka pre-match challenge after it almost sparked an all-in brawl at a junior international in Auckland.
The Junior Kangaroos linked arms and advanced as their New Zealand counterparts performed the ritual ahead of the match on Sunday, resulting in what appeared to be a particularly aggressive haka.
The under-20s players were literally nose-to-nose and shoving each other as officials scrambled to defuse the situation.
New Zealand Rugby League president Howie Tamati said he was disappointed at the response to the traditional Maori challenge.
“In regard to the actions of the Australian boys to walk up and get in the New Zealand boys faces, that was really provocative and disrespectful,” he told Fairfax New Zealand.
He said the haka was an expression of cultural pride, “not a situation where you’re looking to fight”.
Footage of the incident on Youtube, which already had in excess of 100,000 views, suggested culpability on both sides – the Australians encroaching into the New Zealand half but the Junior Kiwi touching and jostling several opposition players.
Towards the end of the haka officials are seen to be separating players from both teams as the incident threatened to boil over.
An NRL spokesperson told AAP however it would not be following up the matter.
As far as the match was concerned The Junior Kiwis had the last laugh, winning 15-14.
The Australian rugby team famously turned their back on the haka during a 1996 Bledisloe Cup clash in Wellington.
They were demolished 43-6.
In recent years, the International Rugby Board has ruled that the team facing the haka must stay at least 10 metres from the halfway line.
The haka is traditionally only performed by men, and British pop group The Spice Girls were labelled culturally insensitive in 1997 when they did an impromptu version during a concert in Bali.
A New Zealand bakery chain also came under fire for a 2007 commercial featuring animated gingerbread men with squeaky voices performing the haka.
Aaron
Guest
So as a Kiwi its ok to perform a war dance and poke your tongue out to insinuate that you will eat the opposition. But to advance on that is disrespectful. What a joke, I think the Haka should stay, but it think they should expect that there is right to respond to the Haka.
Dogforlife
Guest
Yeah I was there too and it was like "Holy Shit are the boys really standing up to the haka, I've never seen that before? Cmon boys get up in their faces don't sit back" It was brilliant bar the result of course.
SP
Guest
Does anyone really care? They like to intimidate the opposition but can't take it themselves. As captain Mainwaring would say "these kiwis, they don't like it up 'em". Good on the Junior Kangaroos. Lets see more of it.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree. I was at the 2008 RL World Cup Final and the noise through the ground when the Kangaroos advanced was spine-tingling. It just adds to the moment, the crowd was going nuts..... unfortunately in terms of the end result, it doesn't appear as though a lot of teams have success on the field after making such a move.
Hoy
Roar Guru
On one hand, Kiwis say it is a challenge, but then when the opposition accept the challenge and respond... they are immediately branded as direspectful. It was good to watch, and it is good for the game. I am sure the players performing the haka didn't mind... challenge accepted.
The Koomz
Guest
I remember the aussies advanced to the haka at the 08 world cup, the Kiwis won proudly.
AR
Guest
He thought the Australian boys were being "provocative"..? What the hell is the haka then? Should opposition teams be expected to stand quietly and smile until the NZ team have completed their throat-slitting challenge..?
Ken
Guest
It's all theatre right? I mean the Kiwis are doing a war dance, are they really so precious as to complain that the opposition are paying attention and responding with their own challenge. I think we should ensure that there's no physical contact going on, no-one wants a brawl in the pre-game, but otherwise it's all good.
Jake
Guest
Should of written don't know why the Haka is done at international sporting events. I know why it is performed and it's history, but not on a sporting field.
The Barry
Roar Guru
"Almost sparked an all in brawl" is way over the top - sort of a half pregnant statement. I love the haka but it is a challenge and should be abled to be responded to. The haka is great drama and a team linking arms and advancing adds to that drama as long as it doesn't get physical.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
A simple google search would answer your question. It's about culture and the occasion, something the all blacks have done for over a hundred years. And hakas aren't just limited to the all blacks, most pacific island nations have one that they perform as well. Tonga and Samoa both perform one. I'm surprised Australians aren't usually aware that the aboriginals also do the same thing and it has been performed on occasion at some sporting events.
Jake
Guest
Don't even know why the Haka is still done. No other sporting body allows one team to force their opponent to watch them aggressively pump themselves up right in their faces.
joe b
Guest
I recall not so long ago the Welsh Rugby Union insisted on singing their national anthem after the ABs did their haka when playing in Wales...how did the New Zealanders respond to this request? They showed total disrespect to their hosts and did their haka in the sheds before the anthems.