Why is The Haka even allowed?

kub · 09-06-2015 11:35PM #1

Well folks as all the rugby pitches are now being well looked after by their ground staff and as its all quite i thought it might be a good time to pose my question.

Why is it that a country like New Zealand can monopolies the start of a rugby game, why is it allowed?

Dravokivich · 09-06-2015 11:46PM

They aren't the only ones that do it.

diusmr8a504cvk · 09-06-2015 11:47PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

They aren't the only ones that do it.

Yeah because everyone is shaking in their boots when Tonga come out and do their dance

Dravokivich · 09-06-2015 11:50PM

Wynter Petite Scrapbook wrote: »

Yeah because everyone is shaking in their boots when Tonga come out and do their dance

It's still not a monopoly. It is something the New Zealand teams do. But it's not New Zealand's thing for themselves.

diusmr8a504cvk · 09-06-2015 11:51PM

I suppose it's tradition. Their basketball team do it along with other sports like Lacrosse but it's only in Rugby that it's intimidating because they're beasts and arguably the greatest sports team ever.

diusmr8a504cvk · 09-06-2015 11:55PM

Although here's a video of the NZ Basketball team or the "Tall Blacks" as they're also known as performing a fairly intimidating Haka against the USA in a game where they lost 98-71.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDucvQYlWj4

dregin · 10-06-2015 03:37AM

Sure Ireland get two goes at an anthem! I'm sure other countries could do something if they felt like it. I didn't realize it caused offense to anyone.

pkvader · 10-06-2015 04:26AM

I always wondered how the all blacks would react if the team facing them turned their backs and just ignored the Haka.

bilston · 10-06-2015 07:47AM

dregin wrote: »

Sure Ireland get two goes at an anthem! I'm sure other countries could do something if they felt like it. I didn't realize it caused offense to anyone.

It hardly causes offence!!! I don't think anyone has that gripe about it!

I think some might argue that it gives NZ a psychological edge. I'm not one of those, but that would be the argument against it, not that it causes offence.

I do think the Kiwis can occasionally be a bit precious about it mind as we saw in Cardiff a few years ago. Still it's part of the theatre of the game when NZ are in town and is here to stay.

sydthebeat · 10-06-2015 07:53AM

pkvader wrote: »

I always wondered how the all blacks would react if the team facing them turned their backs and just ignored the Haka.

Wouldn't make a difference.
As bilston alludes to above, the kiwis performed a haka in their changing room in a match versus Wales in 2006, because Wales were going to sing their national anthem AFTER the haka.

It's tradition, it's can be hair raising (munsters 4 man haka response was spine chilling), and its inoffensive

fitz · 10-06-2015 07:59AM

sydthebeat wrote: »

It's tradition, it's can be hair raising (munsters 4 man haka response was spine chilling), and its inoffensive

For that moment alone, and future moment's like it, it should never be gotten rid of. No matter how many times you watch a replay of the Hakas before that game, it's electrifying.

.ak · 10-06-2015 08:21AM

The ironic thing is however that it was the home nations that asked NZ to preform the Haka on touring games.

Evil_g · 10-06-2015 08:22AM

kub wrote: »

why is it allowed?

Adidas.

10-06-2015 08:39AM

.ak wrote: »

The ironic thing is however that it was the home nations that asked NZ to preform the Haka on touring games.

How dare you bring history and rationality into this.

dregin · 10-06-2015 08:41AM

bilston wrote: »

It hardly causes offence!!! I don't think anyone has that gripe about it!

I think some might argue that it gives NZ a psychological edge. I'm not one of those, but that would be the argument against it, not that it causes offence.

I do think the Kiwis can occasionally be a bit precious about it mind as we saw in Cardiff a few years ago. Still it's part of the theatre of the game when NZ are in town and is here to stay.

!!! I'm sorry my post seems to have caused offence. One more for good luck... !

boredatwork82 · 10-06-2015 08:44AM

It should simply for how teams react. There is a video doing the rounds on Facebook, of Peter Clohessys response. Priceless. We have had great responses to the haka over the years, pity we haven't had he results to match.

I think letting teams do things like this are alll part of the respect and sportsman and community that makes rugby what it is. Let's try to keep as much old and traditional.am values in the game. Because it's currently trying so fast to a game I don't like.

BoJack Horseman · 10-06-2015 08:48AM

Cos it has a monetary value.

The fact that opposing teams are ordered to stand there like idiots watching it & that it takes a timeslot of its own is proof

If it was on its own merit, the kiwis could dance themselves into a frenzy while their opponents warm up in their own 22.....

Buer · 10-06-2015 08:48AM

Anyone who knows their rugby knows that NZ perform the haka because of the vast number of Pacific Islanders that are present in their team. The haka is the traditional dance of the islanders and, due to the fact that at least two thirds of the NZ side at any given point are born and bred Samoan/Fijian/Tongan, the haka is here to stay.

In fact, the direct translation of the words "Ka Mate" is a Tongan derivative and a rough synonym of "Poached" as evidenced here.

10-06-2015 09:09AM

Why are we allowed to intimidate people on our home soil by bringing out the man himself Michael D. Higgins?

Tox56 · 10-06-2015 09:13AM

sydthebeat wrote: »

Wouldn't make a difference.
As bilston alludes to above, the kiwis performed a haka in their changing room in a match versus Wales in 2006, because Wales were going to sing their national anthem AFTER the haka.

It's tradition, it's can be hair raising (munsters 4 man haka response was spine chilling), and its inoffensive

That's a change id be happy to see, if the ABs are visiting they should do the haka first, then the anthems with the home teams anthem last

jack presley · 10-06-2015 09:14AM

It's a gimmick at this stage. No team is actually intimidated by it or starts shaking in their boots when they line up against it. Pantomime villains are probably scarier.

Micky Dolenz · 10-06-2015 09:16AM

We should do some version of Riverdance with Healy mixing it up a bit. That'd be some craic.

Rixuraxu · 10-06-2015 09:18AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Why are we allowed to intimidate people on our home soil by bringing out the man himself Michael D. Higgins?

Man, who the hell is gonna tell him no? You better believe it's not me.

dball · 10-06-2015 09:25AM

I enjoy watching the haka - as a spectacle there is nothing more hair raising but in recent years there are always hundreds/thousands of spectators booing it to try and drown out its power. Im not a fan of the booing but it seems to have taken the edge off the intensity

Macy0161 · 10-06-2015 09:28AM

The only issue, imo, is how opposition teams are made to stand and take it a certain way. I've no problem with the Haka, but teams should be able to react how they like - like we did in 89, or totally ignore it like Campese doing keepy uppy's in his own 22. This stand on the 10m and do nothing or face a fine is crap.

kub · 10-06-2015 10:42AM

Macy0161 wrote: »

The only issue, imo, is how opposition teams are made to stand and take it a certain way. I've no problem with the Haka, but teams should be able to react how they like - like we did in 89, or totally ignore it like Campese doing keepy uppy's in his own 22. This stand on the 10m and do nothing or face a fine is crap.

Sorry what is this about facing a fine?

Macy0161 · 10-06-2015 10:47AM

kub wrote: »

Sorry what is this about facing a fine?

France were fined by the IRB for facing up to the haka in the 2011 world cup.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/france/8847514/Rugby-World-Cup-2011-France-fined-for-advancing-on-New-Zealands-haka-before-final-kick-off.html

razorblunt · 10-06-2015 11:23AM

Does anyone other than fans get their back up about it?
I've never heard a player complain. Personally if I were pro, I'd love to face it, saying that though if they performed anything other than the traditional one I'd be píssed off!

George Hook · 10-06-2015 11:24AM

Macy0161 wrote: »

The only issue, imo, is how opposition teams are made to stand and take it a certain way. I've no problem with the Haka, but teams should be able to react how they like - like we did in 89, or totally ignore it like Campese doing keepy uppy's in his own 22. This stand on the 10m and do nothing or face a fine is crap.

Didn't a team walk beyond the halfway line and got penalised?

Anyway I love it! It enriches the sport and adds character to the game. And it's here to stay until they sell the rights off to Nike. Then we'll be sitting though 30seconds of a team doing 'the Nike'. Goading us in to buying their wares.

The Dark Side · 10-06-2015 11:32AM

Was it nor Ireland in the early 90's that first started the trend for facing the Haka - or is my memory playing tricks with me?

Prior to this most teams just continued to warm-up in their own half during the Haka.

buggy beag · 10-06-2015 11:49AM

Ya think it was france wasnt it.your not allowed to be within 10 metres of them brought down from 20 metres few years ago

Why is The Haka even allowed?

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