Monday May 28, 2012

RUGBY UNION

'Over-used' haka losing potency, says Boks coach

Sports ( 27 )

Picture expired.
The eye-rolling, foot-stomping Maori challenge has been performed before Test matches by the All Blacks since 1905 AFP

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Back to top

Order by Time Order by Popularity

27 Comments

Login to comment

  • 4

    multitasker

    Personally, I`m getting a bit bored with the haka.

  • 1

    It"S ME

    Agree the "Haka" was fun and a gimmick for some time..

    Also don't see how the "Haka" has anything to do with rugby skills, etc. No disrespect to the Maori.

  • -1

    It"S ME

    Maybe the Boks should do the "Gum-boot" dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSgFAG0mtac

    Or one of their "war-dances" by any of the 20+ tribes.

    And than each nation should have their own dance too.

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    I agree -- now if they start up the haka I would just use it as an excuse to hit the can again before the game actually starts, or hit mute and do some texting for a few minutes. It is indeed overrated and overused.

  • -5

    ExportExpert

    Who has ever listened to peter devilliers anyway, he is well known for his mad ramblings and is not respected at all in any rugby circles outside of south africa, and even then he isnt held in high regard in south africa.

    Most rugby officiandos and commentators in NZ think de villiers is a joke anyway and the only reason he is coach of the boks is becuase they have a quota for the coloured folks to fill. Its a political thing and has nothing to do with his ability as a coach.

    The haka is part of NZ culture just as is singing god save the queen to the poms, disrespect our culture and we will psit on your queen, its the same to us.

    If you dont like the haka dont go to nz de villiers and others it's your choice, if its on tv then look away.

    In 1989, Ireland captain Willie Anderson linked arms with his teammates at Landsdowne Road and led them forward so they were within eyeball-to-eyeball with the All Blacks, going on to lose 23-6.

    Australia turned their backs to the haka during a 1996 Bledisloe Cup clash in Wellington and were downed 43-6.

    Disrespect it at your own peril.

  • -1

    hoserfella

    ExportExpert - I'd say those 2 wins were because NZ were the better team, not because of the dancing. I've yet to see any fear in the eyes of opponents when watching the Haka. One of my most traumatic memories in Japan came years ago when 2 drunken Kiwi friends of mine decided to perform the Haka in a crowded izakaya full of unsuspecting and perplexed Japanese. It was met with the most embarrassing silence I've ever had to endure. I tried hiding under cushions until the normal din of voices resumed some 15 minutes later.

  • -1

    ExportExpert

    of course nz were the better team but because the other teams showed a lack of respect they got punished by a bigger scoreline than may have happened if they had of accepted the challenge.

    The haka is a challenge to be accepted not brushed aside. Understanding it may help to appreciate it, ignorance is what de villiers is showing please dont be like him.

  • 0

    hoserfella

    I dunno. I see it as an attempt at intimidation. I liked the Irish answer of getting in their faces.

  • -1

    ExportExpert

    hoserfella

    I dunno. I see it as an attempt at intimidation.

    it's a lack of understanding it.

  • 0

    sourpuss

    i was bored of the haka the second time i saw it.

    and how can the irb rule about that 10 meter distance thing? sounds like the all-blacks get special treatment. no wonder it has an effect on other teams. they refrain from giving the all-blacks an even game for fear of being penalized.

    canada should be allowed to swing axes in their "warmup." you know, as part of their lumberjack heritage.

  • 0

    ExportExpert

    Samoa, tonga fiji also do their version of the haka, dont be so culturally ignorant. Its a south pacific thing, You poms like singing god save the queen we like doing the haka.

  • -2

    It"S ME

    Come on guys, I used the gumboot dance as a joke as it crosses all tribes at the mines in SA. And I dare anyone here to duplicate it. Any takers? Now if you were faced with the full Zulu war-dance .... Equivalent of the Haka using spears, etc.

    As was said why do only the AB get to do the Haka(and it got boring a long time ago).

    Not sure what the british whelps would use. ;)

  • -1

    hoserfella

    ExportExpert - I understand it. Its a Maori wardance, not rocket science. (that also begs the question; Why are the white guys doing it?) And like sourpuss says, why shouldn't Canadian players get to shake their asses? Double standards here...

  • 2

    sourpuss

    exportexpert, yeah right! lol seriously, what's there to miss? or could it be, gosh, that those south pacific rugby players really are warriors?

    don't take yourself so seriously. rugby is not war and a war dance does not belong in sport. where's your sense of humor? i mean yoi have to admit that the haka sounds an awful lot like that song by blue swede.

    ookachaka ooka ooka ookachaka ooka ooka i can't stop this feeling, deep in side of me girl you just don't realize, what you do to me...

  • -4

    ExportExpert

    Whats god save the queen then what is that?

    England should be singing to the same tune, and it would be more appropriate

    God save Our Team, God save our usless team hopless and disasterous, god save our team, - ya wanna take the piss do ya?

    Understand its culture thats what it is, and its south pacific culture.

  • 0

    calm down

    The big picture is this,its old and weary and neither scares nor intimidates cause we've seen it all before... and with every Polynesian rep.side and their dog trying to cash in with it,well,its lost its bite..

  • 0

    sourpuss

    exportexpert, only difference being that it's acceptable to laugh at the queen song. sex pistols anyone? make fun of the haka on the other hand and suddenly we're talking about "culture." ooh, ooh, those poor little rugby players. didn't mean to hurt their feelings.

    contrary to the stereotype, maybe south pacific culture needs to relax... and get "hooked on a feeling, i'm high on believing, that you're in love with me..."

  • -1

    Patrick Smash

    The NZ players must feel very silly doing the haka, especially those with no maori roots. Watching people like McCaw and Ali Williams sticking out their tongues and rolling their eyes is just amusing.Daft Maori war dances have nothing to do with rugby or results. The mighty Ireland didn't need one before putting Australia firmly in its place last week. NZ win because they're better than everyone else; there is nothing m ore to it.

  • -1

    RossBardJapan

    Australia turned their backs to the haka during a 1996 Bledisloe Cup clash in Wellington and were downed 43-6.

    "British pop group The Spice Girls were labelled culturally insensitive in 1997 when they did an impromptu version during a concert in Bali."

    All Blacks were later knocked out in the semis of the 99 World Cup, playing in London.

    Coincidence?

    Don't think so.

  • 3

    davidattokyo

    hoserfella, Not every New Zealander who looks "white" is absent of Maori blood and culture...

    Patrick Smash, Not your best comments ever.

  • 2

    davidattokyo

    sourpuss,

    The IRB rule goes both ways, it's not special treatment. The All Blacks too are supposed to keep within their 10-metre line.

    Honestly, it is what it is. International Rugby and New Zealand performing a Haka are inseparable.

  • 1

    2020hindsights

    Hmmm, not sure what Peter de Villiers is talking about. The All Blacks have been doing the Haka for 100 years, why now for it being overused? Why not 24 years ago? 37 years ago? Oh I know - it's to score psychological points. Shouldn't really matter, the Aussies will knock the Boks in the quarters.

  • 0

    multitasker

    get "hooked on a feeling, i'm high on believing, that you're in love with me..." LOL!! Bring on the lumberjacks and their big... axes! Anywho, cant wait for J vs. Tonga. Yes, Ill watch their version of the haka, but I won`t buy the t-shirt.

  • -2

    RossBardJapan

    I watched Invictus on a flight to HK last year.Boring beyond belief,but I laughed out loud at the part where Morgan Freeman,playing Nelson Mandela,pretended he too feared the Haka.

  • -1

    Asagao

    Doesn't belong to the All Blacks. Originally the performed it in it's true skill, but now it is all about money.

  • 1

    nec123a

    I still Love it!!!! As, it seems, the vast majority of rugby fans do.

  • 1

    nec123a

    @asagao, actually Kapa O Ponga (the new AB haka) is specifically for the ABs - in fact it doesn't make sense for anyone else to do it. The mor famous Kamate Haka is a celebration of over coming death and can be appropriate on a number of occasions.

    It is definitely over done though by NZ'ers all around the world. When younger I would rip out a haka for those that asked when overseas. I never do one now; unless it is my school one at an appropriate time.

    Until you have faced or performed one in the correct setting - you cannot really fully understand its appeal.

Back to top

Login to leave a comment

OR

Follow us

Facebook
Twitter

More in Sports

View all

View all