Many see the Haka, the Maori challenge performed by the New Zealand rugby team before their matches as giving a psychological advantage before kick off. Over the years, teams have responded in a number of different ways. Here are some of the best and the worst ideas.
Wales were the Grand Slam champions and determined not to take a step backwards in their bid to beat New Zealand for the first time since 1953. The All Blacks launched into the Haka and as the last scream echoed into silence, referee Kaplan started to move off, but then realised that Wales hadn’t broken up. They stood silently and impassively facing the Kiwi’s.
A minute later, they were still there and the crowd, realising what was happening erupted. The noise was deafening and still the Welsh stood there. Kaplan spoke to the Kiwi captain McCaw and asked him to get ready for the kick off. He politely declined. He moved over to Ryan Jones, Wales’ captain and asked him to move off saying, ‘They get it Ryan’. Jones replied that ‘They have to break first’.
Eventually, with the crowd reaching fever pitch, New Zealand broke up and prepared for the kick off. Wales carried their challenge into the match, tearing into New Zealand and leading at half time. New Zealand rallied though and a late try made the score a flattering 29-9 to the visitors.
2. Brian O'Driscoll Spear Tackle 2005
Sir Clive Woodward had a reputation as a coach who left no detail to chance and his 2005 Lions team was no different. Seeking to disarm the Haka, Woodward turned to Maori Elders to come up with a fitting response.
After the anthems at the first test, the Lions lined up in a half moon shape, with captain Brian O’Driscoll at its centre with the youngest Lion scrum half Dwayne Peel at his shoulder. When Umaga’s All Blacks completed the Haka, O’Driscoll reached down and plucked some grass from in front of him, symbolising the picking up of the traditional white feather.
Two minutes later, O’Driscoll was clutching his shoulder, dislocated in a spear tackle by Umaga and Mealamu. His tour was over and the Lions were on their way to a 3-0 drubbing in the test series.
3. First Sporting National Anthem
Wales met New Zealand in 1905 in the first ever international between the two countries. It is a game still debated to this day, with New Zealanders claiming that Bob Deans scored the winning try, but was dragged back over the line by defending Welshmen before the referee arrived on the scene.
Despite this controversy, the match is also known for another piece of history. New Zealand performed the Haka much to the delight of the capacity crowd, who responded by singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national anthem. This was the first time that a national anthem had been sung at a sporting event, and was the start of a tradition maintained the world over to this day.
4. France 2007 Rugby World Cup
It had all gone horribly wrong for France. Hosting the rugby world cup for the first time, they had lost the opening match to Argentina, meaning that instead of playing all their matches in Paris at the Stade de France, they were suddenly faced with a quarter final against tournament favourites New Zealand in Cardiff.
When the anthems died down, the All Blacks formed up for the Haka, and the French lined up and took off their track suite tops revealing red, white and blue T-shirts forming the French flag, with a snarling Sebastian Chabal at its centre. As the Kiwis performed the Haka, the French line slowly advanced, leaving the All Blacks in no doubt that the challenge had been accepted.
Despite New Zealand having 80% of the ball, France won the game courtesy of a try which included a pass that 3.5 million Kiwis will go to their grave believing was forward. France, their World Cup ‘final’ won, were a shadow of themselves in the semi final, losing to England.
5. Richard Cockerill Confronts the Haka
England had been the best side in the northern hemisphere for two years, but still had a mental block with southern hemisphere teams. When they met the 1997 All Blacks at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground, there was a determination to put things right.
Right from the start there was an air of confrontation and when the Haka started, the English team edged forward, but debutant hooker, Richard Cockerill of Leicester took it a stage further and kept going until he was inches away from his opposite number, the fearsome, Norm Hewitt.
It looked as though punches were going to be thrown before the game had even started and the more experienced Martin Johnson peeled Cockerill away from the confrontation saying, ‘What the **** have you done?’ He had a point, a riled New Zealand won the match 25-8.
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