I'm tired of the Haka and "respect the Haka"

The Game Room
1

I didn’t want to step on the RWC thread with my mini-rant, so I opened this thread.
I’m tired of the unnecessary deference to NZ and their ritual. There is no practical reason to allow one team to do a confrontational ritual which the other team has to endure, but not counter-challenge or “disrespect”.

The All Blacks are already a formidable team and thus need no help. If they want to do a traditonal cultural activity they should do it in the locker roooms. Peruvian soccer players pray to a couple of Catholic images, privately and nobody would expect the other team to see and watch them pray a couple of Hail Marys in total silence and reverence.

It also breaks the Flow of the pre.match, pumping up one team and making the other lose energy. You should be allowed to go to the bench, play cards, practice kicks, make fun, or whatever. The other team is issuing a war cry, a defiant song, but apparaently for those in the “respect the haka” camp, the NZers are to precious to take any oppostion to it.

Just cancel it or do it way before the match and don’t even try to forcé the other team to watch it. And if they decide to be on the pitch they should be able to do whatever they want, within reason. Practive lineouts.

2

I’m not a fan of the haka in general.

My solution is simple, anyone can do whatever they want during their warm-up period. Should the other side choose to acknowledge a display that’s their choice and would fine, as is ignoring it completely.

At the end of the warm up period we have the anthems and then kick off.

No special privilege for anyone, no special burden on anyone, people are fully free to perform whatever cultural ritual they like. I’ve never heard a good argument for why it must be the last thing done before kick-off.

3

I reckon that if the All Blacks performed a haka first, then they sang “God Defend New Zealand” the balance would be better.

4

Them performing an intimidation ritual before a match is fine: That sort of thing has always been a part of sports.

And likewise, the other team performing an intimidation ritual right back is also fine.

5

Kinda like this?

6

That’s good. Every match should be a combination of Rugby and You Got Served.

7

Professional dance-off! I love it.

8

I won’t lie. I’d watch.

9

I think you’ll find most fans look forward to it. If you’ve never seen one in person then it may not have the same impact. And seriously, if that 90 seconds is so upsetting for you, maybe you could head to the loo.

10

But why should the other team not be allowed to do something, too?

11

Hong Kong 7’s got rid of the Hakka.

One, it took too long.

Two, the various Pacific Island teams, who have related Hakka traditions, could take the Hakka a bit too personally and get a bit too excited.

Three, Eric Rush, former All Blacks, brokered the agreement between the various countries/teams back in the day.

12

The Haka has been responded to on occasion. The French famously got into some performing Kiwis faces once.

13

I assumed that was going to be that “Scotsmen quietly lifting their kilts” commercial, but this is much better.

14

I think the Haka is great and should be continued. I also think fining a team for “disrespecting” the Haka is stupid.

15

Or maybe a bunch of sullen Gallic tribesman staring down?

16

Fully agree with the OP. I’m not aware of any recent controversy, but I remember this rearing its head in a Wales v NZ international a few years ago. IIRC, the Welsh opted to go into a huddle while the haka was performed, ignoring it completely, and there was an outcry. Why? Sure, NZ and anyone else with that tradition can go ahead and do it, but forcing the other team to watch is ridiculous. I’d draw the line at the other team actively disrespecting it, but ignoring it should be fine, not fined.

17

The French response to a hakka in the '11 WC final was to all hold hands while their lock and 8th man jointly massaged the 8th man’s asshole. Now if that isn’t a display of reamwork in the face of tongue lapping adversity, I don’t know what is. The Greatest haka EVER? - YouTube

18

Disrespectful would have been dressing up as 19th century British Grenadiers and charging with bayonets.

19

I think the English should respond with a display of morris dancing.

20

Disrespectful sure; but awesome nevertheless.