England have been fined for crossing the halfway line in their response to New Zealand’s pre-match haka before their Rugby World Cup semi-final.
The punishment comes despite All Blacks coach Steve Hansen describing their V-shaped formation as “brilliant” and “imaginative”.
England fanned out across the pitch as the All Blacks delivered the challenge, with several players who crossed the halfway line standing their ground when officials tried to usher them back.
World Rugby regulations stipulate opponents must not cross the halfway line while the haka is being performed. It did not disclose the size of the fine, which is to be donated to charity.
“England have been fined for a breach of World Cup tournament rules relating to cultural challenges, which states that no players from the team receiving the challenge may advance beyond the halfway line,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.
“This is in line with the protocol which operates globally across the international game.”
In the 2011 tournament France were fined $A4700 when they also advanced on the haka before the final. England’s fine was thought to be four figures but less than that.
Asked about England’s actions after the match, captain Owen Farrell said: “We didn’t just want to stand in a flat line and let them come at us.”
World Rugby’s YouTube video of the incident, titled “England’s incredible response to intense New Zealand haka” with a commentator saying “you want box office? You’ve got it”, has been viewed more than four million times.
New Zealand coach Hansen said on Wednesday he had no problems with England’s response.
“If you understand the haka, then the haka requires a response,” he said. “It is a challenge to you personally and it requires you to have a response.
“I thought it was brilliant and quite imaginative too.”
Fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland took a similar view, with the Wales coach calling it a “perfect response”.
“For them to do something like that is completely respectful as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “They didn’t turn their backs or anything like that. They stood there and received the haka.
“Ireland in Chicago a few years ago did a number eight in respect for Anthony Foley and other teams have done it in their own way. “I was involved with the All Blacks against Ireland and Willie Anderson linked arms with everyone else and they marched forwards.
“After the match they were severely criticised by the press for how disrespectful that was. As All Blacks, no one mentioned a thing afterwards.”
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yes it is real evidence and there are others and several in rugby league as well - all on you tube no doubt...look them up. If you can't see a potentially embarrassing incident for international rugby in the Cockerill / Hewitt incident alone then I'm sort of glad you are not involved in traffic management..... no - lets wait until we have a serious accident before we put up the Slow Down sign before the tight corner. "complete prevention of all responses to the challenge"...come on... you know that's not the case. That's a gross exaggeration. I'm not aware of any restriction placed on any team other than where they can take up position. "truth is really..." no it's not ...That's simply opinion. You don't seriously think that a team intent in disregarding protocol and getting in the faces of their opponents is going to be bothered by a few microphones and cameramen. Again go to you tube...there is evidence this is in fact true.
soapit
Roar Guru
so an example where things slightly crossed the line (a couple of pushes), ~10 years prior, is the real evidence for this feeling of a hovering impending incident that required complete prevention of all responses to the challenge to prevent? ok then. seems like fining/suspending heavily them for making contact or coming within 2m would achieve the same perfectly well without all the downsides. but thats me. truth is really as someone pointed out above its more to do with all the cameramen and microphone men who want to use that space to be able to market/milk the cultural expression and nothing to do with the risk of an incident (given the best you seem to be able to find is a couple of pushes from the nineties)
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
no real evidence? yeah right. Perhaps speak to Richard Cockerill and Norm Hewitt. The protocol wasn't introduced for no reason.
Kane
Roar Guru
We could bring out the wee picket fences like they have at the boundary at the cricket.
James
Guest
Sandpit. Seeing the All Blacks are always heavy favourites then your line of thought is every time they lose it’s a choke. I see that as a sign of respect or jealousy.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Won’t push you to explain how that can possibly be linear - let’s just both enjoy the rationalising!
CUW
Roar Rookie
its always an embarresment when two teams come face to face and butt heads , as happened a while back.. its embarrassing because the game had not even started. and rugger goes on and on about how it is not footy DUH and also look at history - it has always been teams who do not have such a war dance that have thought its ok to do something silly. when teams decide to do things even when there are rules against such actions - what do u think will happen if there was no rules ? the only issue i have is that WR also had taken an axe to cut a straw - they have really nullified the spectacle of such performances. as i said elsewhere - imagine Samoa /Fiji and NZ going close with their dances at the same time !!!
SandBox
Roar Guru
Trying to cling to it not being a Choke, is also linear. Quite happy for AB’s to rationalise the choke. Makes it more enjoyable
Jerry
Guest
There are already lines on the pitch that are 10m apart, there's no 3m lines. I don't have a problem with any of the responses, but I see why WR think it's necessary and 10m is the easiest one to enforce.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
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FunBus
Roar Rookie
How do you think blokes with the name of Read, Smith, Barrett, Moody, Taylor, Cole, Bridge, etc etc found themselves in New Zealand? Took a wrong turn at the Cape?
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Not sure everyone thought the response was fine. Stuff has just printed an article linking Owen Farrell’s smile to colonial oppression and the violation of Maori women in the 18th century. It’s one perspective, I suppose.
soapit
Roar Guru
its not hard clarke. a decision is made to not do it. its not accidental there was no real evidence potential embarrassment was hovering.
rebel
Roar Guru
They did have a right of reply and they conducted it but broke a rule applicable to both teams. No need to make things up.
Jak
Guest
Not sure what the problem is. NZ and England were just doing what they have always done; NZ; respecting the culture of their homeland. England; turning up and invading other peoples space
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Book making is a very linear process. It’s why the odds are always in their favour. Seems you are not only a linear thinker, but remain one even in the light of experience. Book making is also very dispassionate. They would view a return game very differently. Under your choking theory, by definition, you wouldn’t see it the same. Two things. Don’t rely on an argument selectively, and don’t bet.
AndyS
Guest
Bookies odds are just a very large opinion poll, based on where the money has been bet. If they are anything, they are a measure of how dumb a lot of people can be.
SandBox
Roar Guru
If you are heavy favourites, and don’t win, then you choked.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
And this is the very reason the rule exists. Teams have advanced towards each other.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
No s... They perform Hakas at pantomines?