The rugby

[AndyRM]

I hope New Zealand take ages with their Haka today, purely to irritate Joe Marler. It's been a part of playing them since forever and I can't see any reason to stop it.

My favourite version was at Murrayfield, when Scotland marched defiantly up to the halfway line arm in arm. It looked awesome, but we were duly flattened.

 

[geocycle]

All part of the spectacle and a way of acknowledging Māori culture in NZ sport. However, given the number of international fixtures I’d be happy to see anthems and such like go except for the latter stages of tournaments. Using them and even the Hakka at every fixture dilutes the impact.

 

[AndyRM]

All part of the spectacle and a way of acknowledging Māori culture in NZ sport. However, given the number of international fixtures I’d be happy to see anthems and such like go except for the latter stages of tournaments. Using them and even the Hakka at every fixture dilutes the impact.

That I think is fair. I'd happily see anthems get binned from international tournaments.

 

[Dogtrousers]

All part of the spectacle and a way of acknowledging Māori culture in NZ sport. However, given the number of international fixtures I’d be happy to see anthems and such like go except for the latter stages of tournaments. Using them and even the Hakka at every fixture dilutes the impact.

Yebbut teams like, say, Georgia don't get to face NZ very often, so denying them the Haka would be a shame for the players to miss out on. A lot of players (OK, not Joe Marler ) say they relish the experience.

The anthems bore me, but they're here to stay I think so I and others of like mind just have to put up with them. Time to make coffee when watching on telly. A chance to stand up and have a stretch when watching live.

 

[geocycle]

Credit to the Scottish fans for selling out the Fiji fixture. Just a shame the teams are weakened by league regulations in England and France.

 

[geocycle]

In terms of anthems, I’d say my preference is 1. France, 2. Wales, 3. Italy, 4. Ireland, 5. Scotland, 6. SA, 7. Argentina, 8. Australia, 9. NZ, 10 England.

 

[AndyRM]

In terms of anthems, I’d say my preference is 1. France, 2. Wales, 3. Italy, 4. Ireland, 5. Scotland, 6. SA, 7. Argentina, 8. Australia, 9. NZ, 10 England.

Broadly I'd agree. But without wanting to get political, since we bailed on independence I've kind of hated Flower of Scotland.

 

[Chromatic]

My favourite version was at Murrayfield, when Scotland marched defiantly up to the halfway line arm in arm. It looked awesome, but we were duly flattened.

Haven't they stopped any type challenge to it now, in another sop to the NZ preciousness over the haka?

David Campese had the right idea about it.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

The Scottish haka


View: https://youtu.be/gTBoXVJDRRk?si=zxw0oZPOUk-CeTkx

 

[Beebo]

Haven't they stopped any type challenge to it now, in another sop to the NZ preciousness over the haka?

David Campese had the right idea about it.

Yep. Completely ignore it.
And I hated Campo. But would have loved him if he was English.

 

[AndyRM]

Haven't they stopped any type challenge to it now, in another sop to the NZ preciousness over the haka?

David Campese had the right idea about it.

Are they precious about it? It's just a thing they do. If other countries are getting butthurt about it that's on them.

 

[Chromatic]

Are they precious about it? It's just a thing they do. If other countries are getting butthurt about it that's on them.

Yes.

 

[AndyRM]

Yes.

 

[Chromatic]

Are they precious about it?

Yes.

 

[Dogtrousers]

In the 70s I went with my dad to see the All Blacks at Coventry I think it was or maybe Leicester. Probably Vs a Midlands XV or something like that. My memories of it are very vague, but two things stand out: Seeing Billy Bush close up, with steam coming off him like something out of a Hammer Horror Film. He big. And, of course, the haka.

People love to bellyache about it in the internet when they can't think of anything else but the fact is it's not just a part of NZ history and culture but of Rugby history.

The game is unrecognisable these days - Leicester play with numbers on their jerseys FFS, but there are still a few oddities that survive and are worth cherishing in the face of calls for further homogenisation and standardisation. The British Lions is one. The Haka is another.