Strange one to call. If you stand up and accept the 'challenge', then you are disrespectful, if you turn your back and ignore the challenge then you are disrespectful.
If you stand there and let them dance their war dance at you, then they are happy.
I'm not Maori but I saw nothing wrong with Wales. They stood their ground, respected the challenge, accepted the challenge and stared down the challenge. Good on 'em.
John
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He is able to lift up a heavy object when that heavy object says "lift me now".
bless the little lambs... so its a war dance how exactly does one respond to a bunch of blokes saying come and have a go if you think your hard enough.. do they expect us to roll over and die?
Would give Barnes something to go Dewi eyed about!
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kevf wrote:do they expect us to roll over and die?
Yes.
It is a wonderful tradition and should be respected. But I think there is big difference between standing up to the challenge and being disrespectful, and I don't think that some New Zealanders always get that distinction.
John
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He is able to lift up a heavy object when that heavy object says "lift me now".
I really have no time for this kind of winging from the all blacks. It seems to me that the All Blacks should remember that they're given a free opportunity to get pumped up and intimidate the opposition before every single test match.
No other team is allowed this privelage and as long as no team is disrespectful (Wales were if anything showing their respect by standing their ground in my opinion) I think All Blacks should appreciate this tradition and stop taking it for granted.
I think that they should remember how privileged they are to be allowed to have this.
Also why didn't they move because if they moved then Wales would have moved as-well so if they are going to winge at Wales then they have to take part of the blame because lets face it they stood there and wouldn't budge until the ref told them too either.
The best thing for England to do is to accept the challenge but what I think would be great is for the crowd to jeer a bit and then break out in Swing low Sweet Chariot for as long and as loud as possible.
Success only comes before work in the dictionary.
"Rugby is a hooligans game played by gentlemen." Winston Churchill
I'd either get right in there faces, like cockers did, or leave the pitch completely and let them dance to crowd. I certainly wouldn't stand their and let them bully me.
kevf wrote:do they expect us to roll over and die?
Yes.
It is a wonderful tradition and should be respected. But I think there is big difference between standing up to the challenge and being disrespectful, and I don't think that some New Zealanders always get that distinction.
I agree its a wonderful tradition, but nowadays in name only. The Haka performance of 50 years ago looked more like a Morris Dance than a War dance. If the All Blacks are allowed to change it gradually over time, why are opponents not allowed to introduce their own method of accepting the challenge?
The AB's may well say that opponents should respect the Haka but in my opinion, with all the little extra theatrics that have been included in todays version, it is no longer as traditional as made out.
The AB's should cease moaning and get on with it. After all, if England were to accept the challenge differently on Saturday, history has to start somewhere.
The Kiwi's are not the only nation allowed to perform the haka, or a version of it. All 3 of the South Pacific nations have their own take on it, and performed one for the recent test match at Twickers.In my opinion only the versions of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa have any credibility. Seeing the white european ethnics performing for New Zealand is laughable, it's nothing but PC posturing by the NZRU and their government. They treat the maoris poorly but do a token culture performance for a game of rugby, never the cricket though?
Lets just knock it on the head. It's 2008 for gods sake, Just anthems and kick off.
What do you think? Lets ask Cockers!!
