It seems every time the All Blacks cross the equator, and often when they don’t, some journo looks to make a name for himself by having a shot at haka while simultaneously demonstrating all the personal ignorance that comes with making such ‘observations’.
This time the Telegraph UK let one of their number loose on the subject and opinion writer at the UK Sunday Times, the bile duct personification himself, again flapped his gums in usual self-important fashion on the paper’s weekly rugby podcast on the subject.
What doesn’t appear to hit home to these individuals is just how out of touch they are with the real world.
Since Buck Shelford reinstated the pride and connection of the haka with the All Blacks, the progress of New Zealand in recognising and acknowledging its Maori history has made enormous strides.
Far from perfect we all accept, but we are at last on the right path. What a pleasure it is to hear the national anthem ring out in both English and Te Reo at a rugby match and we have long dispensed with the need for the Te Reo version to be up on the big screen for people to follow.
My sons have grown up more offshore than on, but fewer things make me prouder than them belting out the anthem in both languages on Test day.
I am sure we all remember Buck Shelford taking his team deep into opposition territory back in 1989 to share the haka with Welsh side Newport who thought it a better idea to cower forty metres away rather than to take the chance of what would have been a once in a lifetime experience for many of their number.
Later that day Buck collected three teeth from one of his opposites while the home tighthead departed with a nose broken in two places to add to a thumping on the scoreboard – karma eh?
Richie McCaw’s All Blacks doing the haka in their own dressing room back in 2006, as the WRU again tried to play silly buggers, should have turned the light on for many that the haka was becoming something of real cultural significance to the All Blacks, and through them, for many New Zealanders.
But those are actions of the past, there is more than enough evidence this year alone that the naysayers on this subject should stay firmly in their little narrow boxes.
Callum Sheedy, Welsh international, who was excluded from selection by the Welsh Test being outside the Test window, was on a podcast in the run up to that game lamenting that he would not have the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream to face the New Zealand haka.
The game against the United States further showed how revered the haka remains.
I have no idea who the player in the picture is, I did try to identify him, but no photos on their web page, but here is a guy who is realising a dream, he gets to play against the All Blacks and face the haka.
No matter that he has about as much chance of success on the day as Leonadis and his mates at Thermopylae. I for one loved his genuine emotional response to his situation, and how good that an attempt by some in the press to pillar this response as disrespectful, quickly fizzled.
Added to this, before the haka, American captain, Bryce Campbell, lay an American Eagles jersey with the number 11 and the surname Wainui before the All Black and the tribute was accepted by the All Black captains for the day.
If there was a better vehicle for acknowledging the recent passing of Maori All Black Sean Wainui, I sure as hell can’t think of it. It was a wonderful moment.
I will add a family anecdote to what the All Black/haka combination means to people around the world. My eldest son was at the game with his partner.
She is American, a rugby player of some ability having played University code both in the States and Australia and is as passionate about the game as anyone you would like to meet.
We were sent a photo of her, just before kick-off, in floods of tears, as the reality of seeing the haka and All Blacks live for the very first time hit home. You can’t commercialise or create reactions like that.
And is there a better way to be welcomed to Dublin than by this haka from the Together Academy, a school for students with Down Syndrome. Please take the time to view, this is absolutely brilliant.
The guy in the red hat in the front row is Ben, whose dream it was to do this, and his mate, front right of the screen, is Harry, who gives the perfect example of how to commit to the haka.
Have a quick flick through the Twitter comments to see how positively this was received. Not a bad way to make a connection eh?
Anyone other than a couple of myopic colonialists still think we should be scrapping this?
Earlier this year I posted a video of the New Plymouth Boys High School First XV haka, accompanied by the entire school on the hill beside the ground and its worth another look.
I defy anyone to watch this without the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. The boys on the hill and the opposition response are just amazing. This is real grassroots connection for me and it’s so important.
Normally when our former colonial masters have a shot about this, we tend to respond with quips about choosing Morris Dancers to come out front and represent them and clearly that’s not fair.
There must be something Roman, Norse or French from the centuries of rule and occupation of the Isles that would be appropriate, perhaps spend some time giving that some thought.
Tony Harper
Editor
Hi guys, comments now being closed by request of the author.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Weirdly the term "Pom" is probably derogatory in Aus more so than in NZ. I also say Aus is a little america but NZ a little England. Having lived in Aus for many years I can assure you the word "Kiwi" is frequently followed with many other derogatory words directly after it. :laughing:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Im glad NZ took the stance they did and Im happy for any country to react the way they want to but you cant blame NZ for reacting to the Welsh action as thats just subservient and you cant blame NZ for WR dictating the way a team can respond. To me it was the fans that missed out not the Welsh Union team or the NZ Union team.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
I don’t think many of us sit back and take insults and if we’re honest, these things degenerate very quickly into pretty petty fair. It’s genuinely not why I come here and I assume you don’t either. The whole Pom thing is a long and complicated discussion probably best not served on this forum. The only thing I will say about it is that it’s not and never has been a term of endearment (it’s also a misnomer). I use it because I am called it every single day and it has become part of my lexicon, somewhat unwillingly. Aussie and Kiwi are not used as disparagement. The word Pom is frequently followed or intermingled with invective. It’s not uncommon to read on the Roar about how much people ‘hate the Poms’. It’s not particularly nice to read and thankfully this sort of stuff remains mostly on line and doesn’t filter into real life due to social norms and what not but it’s perfectly acceptable on line and certainly de rigueur here on the Roar. :unhappy: I can’t speak for any other English poster on here regarding NZ rugby but I certainly don’t hate it, I admire it. NZ rugby has always been the benchmark for the rest of us. I think the Haka is a subject that seems impossible to discuss without there being some upset along the way which is sad. For me, it was a wonderment to witness as a child and a young man, not least because it was very occasional and therefore special and was part of the ABs mystique. Perhaps the ubiquitousness of the Haka these days has dulled it somewhat for some which is also sad, we all know the saying about familiarity breeding contempt. (Not saying anyone has contempt for it but you know what I mean). Apologies for the English refs thing, I just have a fairly low threshold for conspiracy theories. Finally Jacko, I wouldn’t expect anybody to ‘take it up the kyber’ without a robust response. :laughing:
WEST
Roar Guru
Where did you read or hear it was to protect the Haka? I thought it was more about keeping order so fights don’t break out before a match. That happens occasionally, within NZ. I’m not sure how WR have worded it. Safe space or something. It’s a minor fine. Teams can break that minor rule whenever they want. We certainly won’t complain, but encourage more of it. It’s just a minor fee.. Doesn’t take away anything else, ranking points or deduct score board points. Think England did it in 2019.. More of that please :silly: maybe the ABs can start paying half the fine?
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
And fair enough to. We have done some good stuff over the years far too numerous to mention. You are right to say that the world was gruesome, literally every nation marauded at one point or another…some were better at it than others though. :silly:
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
I can’t speak for the Welsh but I wouldn’t be so quick to assume bad faith on their part. As I understand it, they wanted the singing of their anthem to be the final act before kick off.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
I realise that it’s not enforced by NZ, however it was instituted to, for want of a better word, ‘protect’ the Haka and I do sincerely believe that if NZ approached WR then WR would definitely listen to them.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, I agree it got out of hand in other parts of the conversation of this whole thread. I don't know who started it, but either way it's disappointing, I would also think we should be above 'well, he started it' as an excuse for piss-poor behavior - who ever you support. My view would be that if you hate the Haka, don't click on this article, comment 100 times, and then complain you can't away from it. But as a Kiwi I realize my view point is swayed in a particularly direction.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Oh POM. no wonder the Seagull fly over POMS as you, up side down!!! Not worth cr#**@%g on .
Jacko
Roar Rookie
No country has a nice history. The world was a pretty gruesome place thru-out history. England does have a strong history of marauding tho and claimed NZ even tho many others had been there before. I mean it is called New Zealand not New England after all. However, as a Kiwi I very much have an affialite with the "mother country" and that hasnt changed in 50 plus years but I still want my team to beat yours.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yes you lot invented the game, but there is one part POMS as you excel in. Being an utter dropkick.!!!!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Again it's you being the key board warrior you appear to be, are showing your utter ignorance on the Mori Ori issue, FFS, get your garbage together & stop reading that known POM history that was brainwashed into us, & you too, so it seems, as you are entirely out of whack. Like your known over 100 million genocides in the America's was only a part of your pathetic history. You are more than showing your ignorance & arrogance.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I dont have an answer but I would presume it was a "well if you wont allow us to do it in its standard time place then we will do it in our change room" i think it got the point across nicely and I know it got world wide attention so it achieved its intent I guess. Im unaware that a challange has to be done face to face but Im no expert on the Haka. I think the more pertenent question would be why did Wales decide they wanted it changed from the way it has been done for 100 years? I think we know it was done purely to annoy and it probably got the response it deserved.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
"Tbf, I was taking the p." I thought as much, but the written word often lacks the nuance of having a real conversation, so didn't want to right a smartarse response about how many we actually deserve lol And fair point about the Home Nations voting en masse, they could however if they wanted to, or if they really wanted to change the pre-match program if they truly thought a Haka gave the ABs an advantage. I think there is commercial advantage in how it is run these days, and I think that money talks.
WEST
Roar Guru
I like your thinking, but it’s not the All Blacks rule. It would be great if NZ had that much power to make those decisions. It’s not the ABs decision to make.. Maybe they could start putting the idea forward, to allow teams to get in their faces once more. I know the All Blacks would love to go back to those days. I’m sure everyone else would also.. In saying that, you are aware that any team can get in the ABs faces if they choose too. It’s just a minor fine.. Again a fine isn’t enforced by NZ, that’s WR rule. France were happy to pay the fine. I believe in 2007 and in 2011. we really appreciated they did that :thumbup:
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Might I suggest that you’re being a tad selective there and would be perhaps better served to read the responses in their entirety? I’m not suggesting there was anything wrong with what Muzzo wrote there but elsewhere there certainly was.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Wales didn’t say ‘you can’t do the Haka?’ They simply requested that they do it BEFORE the Welsh national anthem. And NZ complied with that request.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Tbf, I was taking the p. Yeah, fair enough but FunBus was also correct to say that the ‘Home unions’ certainly don’t vote en masse.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Fair enough :happy: I normally use them after I have double checked to see if I am right, as I do not trust my memory anymore these days lol