The Haka is under challenge

In the past week the Haka has been under siege, used as the ultimate challenge to let rivals know a team is ready the Haka itself is under attack up north. In a week that has seen some one off’s and 1st time happenings this challenge will only make the Haka stronger.

It all started in Munster, nearly 30 years to the day when the local boys toppled the Grand Slam All Blacks of 1978.  As the lads from Munster again lined up the boys from NZ the vocal crowd waited for the fizz, what played out was 4 Kiwi boys playing for Munster walked out and laid their own Haka aimed at the men in black. In a fiery rendition they were flanked by their entire Irish team. It all got to epic levels as the crowd cheered them on all the way, not a word was heard in the roar, but everything was felt. With such a challenge came a fitting response, Piri Weepu lead the way and to deafening silence and respect 28,000 people watched on in awe as the pre match fireworks were launched in the All Blacks Haka.

This pre match entrée did flow on into the match and both teams were at each other in a nail biter that was won in the 76th minute. Played under full fire, everyone on the field and off was treated to a spectacle, rich culture and scintillating heart stopping rugby.

Fast-forward 4 days and in Millennium stadium in Cardiff the All Blacks had Wales in their eyes on half way. In this marvellous stadium you have 2 equal challenges, the Haka and the Welsh singing supporters. As the AB’s puffed their chests in the Haka the Welsh stood firm, greeted the Haka by eying their opponents and didn’t back done, not an inch. In the not backing down stacks they took this to a new level, it became a genuine stare down competition like 2 kids in the back seat on a car ride with their parents. This went on for 2 minutes and the poor Ref was beside himself trying to get play going.

Now we have 2 different camps in this argument, up in the northern parts of the world they are saying the Haka is an unfair advantage to the All Blacks. This may be so as we know and can see in their eyes it does fire them up. However there are many ways to take this on the chin and on board. The Welsh stood up to the challenge & good on them for eying the challenge. They may have taken it too far though and provoked a response of anger in the cultural circles of players and supporters of NZ. They did get it half right though, by looking the challenge straight in the eye they standing tall & proud. Right after that they should walk back to their starting position and listen to their supporters sing. This combined togetherness that is sung so sweetly by the Welsh is matched by no other in the world, this is the ultimate response and the weapon to fill the team with pride, passion and drive to do well. The continual singing in the match is also the juice that fuels them to dig deep in the times of need.

Rugby is a game of expression; it is a game that is played by different people, different cultures and different beliefs. The good bit though is that rugby is embracing enough to welcome it all to the game and this is exactly what our game is. So stick to your strengths, listen to your cultures and your ways and do the best you can in your own unique way to be rugby ready when the whistle is blown.

The Haka is a fabulous addition to rugby, enjoy it, confront it, but ultimately respect it and everything else good in our rugby culture.