Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 22

Thread: Accepting the Haka Challenge.

  1. #1
    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Mandurah
    Posts
    15,726
    vCash
    5470000

    Accepting the Haka Challenge.

    Quote Originally Posted by MR X
    The Haka - Wallabies to stand firmly with toes on the half way line staring at the All Blacks as they do the Haka. The reason is that in doing the Haka the All Blacks edge forward symbolically "taking ground" on the Wallabies. With us standing on half way, arms crossed we send the symbollic message that if you want to take ground come and get it, we ain't moving. And in a final gesture after the All Blacks poke their tounges out or slit their throats we simply yell the word "Australia", turn and take our places for the start of the match. This would also be the end of Waltzing Matilda being sung, Mr X does not like WM!
    Was very interested to hear this from Mr X. I've thought about this quite often lately. It's a challenge and, as I've had explained to me, with that tradition comes the right to accept and answer.

    I think his idea has great merit. At least in answer to the traditional Ka Mate. It's one of the icons of the game IMO.

    But another thing I've thought about lately is that the All Blacks have seen fit to depart from that tradition and decided to invent a couple of their own to better reflect the large number of Pacific Island All Blacks. I'm not sure the same respect is warranted.

    It seems to me these "hakas" have become more a motivational tool. More "theatre" than tradition. What did that Kiwi journo call it the other day? Something about pouting and prancing?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Champion RuckNMaul's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Great Southern
    Posts
    1,747
    vCash
    5000000
    i agree that the haka has to be answered, and not with waltzing matilda

    mabey somthing like this?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmy6OaZEAhE

    but in all seriousness the wallabies must come up with some rebuttal to the haka which is not a dis but an acceptance of the challange as well as showing we are seriously pumped about the game at hand.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    <>

  3. #3
    Legend Contributor
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    5,259
    vCash
    5100000
    What I'd like to see is the lads stand as one and, when the ABs take their step/s forward, the Wallabies step forward as one.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Wanneroo
    Posts
    5,348
    vCash
    5000000
    Brian O' Driscoll tried it at one match - sort of fell flat - but apparently the traditional approach is to pick up a blade of grass and offer it to the Kiwis - thus accepting the challenge

    prehaps the real Kiwis can explain what is supposed to happen

    PS liked the video - suspecting that it was not shot in Scotland as the icy winds would have diminished the effect

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    61 years between Grand Slams Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby

  5. #5
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    Burgs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Country WA
    Posts
    22,644
    vCash
    334000
    I remember some heated debate about this last year however, while I respect the custom and culture of the haka etc I believe that it is losing its relevance and, as you suggest shasta, is more of a self motivational tool than the genuine "challenge" it is portrayed to be.
    Two events occurred recently to diminish the place it holds, in my eyes at least, the invention of a new haka and the ridiculous spectacle of the fearsome All Blacks performing the haka in the changeroom.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "Bloody oath we did!"

    Nathan Sharpe, Legend.

  6. #6
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    West Leederville
    Posts
    16,871
    vCash
    3102000
    Traditionally during a Haka they would lay a spear on the ground, by the opposition picking up that spear they were accepting the challenge.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

  7. #7
    Champion RuckNMaul's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Great Southern
    Posts
    1,747
    vCash
    5000000
    TIF, mabey they could use a handbag instead?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    <>

  8. #8
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    West Leederville
    Posts
    16,871
    vCash
    3102000

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?

    Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!

    Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!

  9. #9
    Veteran Ecky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    2,891
    vCash
    5004000
    Didn't the AB's complain not so long ago when someone "accepted" the challenge by walking up and going eye-to-eye with his opposite number during the haka? Was that O'Driscoll in the Lions tour?

    We can't then be expected to "accept" the challenge if the AB's get precious about it - unless it is only theatre these days...

    I also have a recollection of a WA state player (ex Kiwi - Maori type) doing the same thing when the AB's played WA quite a few years ago. I had always thought it was Gavin Bermingham (Birmingham?) but read fairly recently it was Rick Smith.

    a) Can anyone (as old as me or older) remember this?
    b) Did Gavin do it first, then Rick on another occasion?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  10. #10
    Champion RuckNMaul's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Great Southern
    Posts
    1,747
    vCash
    5000000
    i vaugly remember aussie warming up while they did it and coping a shalacking and we all remember willie masons black eye

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    <>

  11. #11
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    travelling_gerry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Posts
    18,483
    vCash
    5062000
    And was it Sam Scott-Young who winked at his opponent during a haka too?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Champion Contributor Em-Forcer's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Posts
    1,277
    vCash
    5000000
    [QUOTE=Krusher]i agree that the haka has to be answered, and not with waltzing matilda

    mabey somthing like this?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmy6OaZEAhE

    QUOTE]

    Gold!
    TQ1's right though - you wouldn't want to do that at Murrayfield - unless you used the sporran as a warmer!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Keeping the Faith ... right here in Perth!

  13. #13
    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Mandurah
    Posts
    15,726
    vCash
    5470000
    Quote Originally Posted by Ecky
    Didn't the AB's complain not so long ago when someone "accepted" the challenge by walking up and going eye-to-eye with his opposite number during the haka? Was that O'Driscoll in the Lions tour?
    Interesting point. Good to see via Mr X that some of the people at the sharp end of Oz Rugby give this matter some thought as well. But it sounds as though maybe even members of the ARU board might be a little unsure what's acceptable to the mighty All Blacks. So how could the players from all the other nations be expected to know? Let alone the punters.

    But surely standing virtually toe-to-toe & eyeballing them is OK. That's what Mr X reckons and I'm with him.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  14. #14
    Prospect
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1
    vCash
    5000000

    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by Ecky View Post
    I also have a recollection of a WA state player (ex Kiwi - Maori type) doing the same thing when the AB's played WA quite a few years ago. I had always thought it was Gavin Bermingham (Birmingham?) but read fairly recently it was Rick Smith.

    a) Can anyone (as old as me or older) remember this?
    b) Did Gavin do it first, then Rick on another occasion?
    Yes, Rick Smith did challenge the All Black haka when they played WA in (I think) 1992. I was Rick's fiance at the time and remember a number of vitriolic pieces written by sports reporters who had absolutely no understanding of haka protocol or history and certainly never bothered to ask either Rick or anyone else with that knowledge.

    Rick is part-Maori and certainly knows the traditions associated with the haka. The All Blacks at the time were quite put out as it was the first time they had been challenged. I spoke to the great All Black flanker Michael Jones at the post-match function and he was quite upset about it which I found ironic as he is Samoan!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  15. #15
    Legend Contributor slomo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    yanchep...
    Posts
    5,367
    vCash
    190000
    the french did pretty well at challenging the haka at RWC2007, they got right in thier faces. and the result went le blues way...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj9cboaps68


    i could be wrong here but didn't the welsh want to do a response of some sort a few years ago?, the all blacks didn't want this so they did the haka in the changerooms......

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Awesome article regarding war dances, ie haka, etc
    By frontrow in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 19-09-07, 21:30
  2. Springboks plan Zulu haka
    By Burgs in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 18-07-07, 17:57
  3. ACT Locals ready for Mazda ARC challenge
    By Evie in forum National Rugby Championship (NRC)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-07-07, 12:46
  4. All Blacks reject Haka criticism
    By NewsBot in forum Rugby
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 15-09-06, 15:16
  5. Haka and Rugby
    By Burgs in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 11-07-06, 18:00

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •