All Blacks dismiss claims haka gives them advantage

[SoylentGreen]

3 News > 3 Sport > Story > All Blacks dismiss claims haka gives them advantage

with just one test remaining, calls to end the All Blacks' haka are reverberating around the British Isles ahead of this weekend's test against England.

It is no surprise given the standard of their rugby team the English are again on the wind-up.

The controversy is growing following the death stare dished out by the Welsh before last weekend's test, and the English, perhaps eager to divert attention away from their record loss to the Springboks, say the haka gives the All Blacks an unfair psychological advantage.

"We have in the past tried to use the haka as a motivation to make sure we start well," says All Black prop Neemia Tialata, "but with teams now facing up to the challenge and making sure there's five minutes break before we kick off, it has been a little bit challenging for us."

Thorn thinks it is just sour grapes, and says the English would be better off worrying about the 80 minutes that follow the haka.

This is absolutely pathetic on the part of the english.
The haka is a challenge that the other team face. The welsh had the balls to give a death stare back. See this link for that
3 News > Video > Sports > All Blacks dismiss claims haka gives them advantage
But the english tried turning their back to it and only ended up looking bad.
That they are scared of the haka does definitely give us a psychological advantage, but if they want that back then perhaps they should get the welsh to play for them.

[Matt W]

Sport isn't Breaking News. Moved.

[Matt W]

And in the meanwhile..I've looked around for evidence of this....not seen any commentators in 3 broadsheets or the BBC saying anything about it, and they tend to be the sources the real rugby fans turn to, as opposed to post-2003 hangers on who are convinced Jonny Wilkinson is god. Any names?

[SoylentGreen]

That's interesting, the article just says

Some British television commentators and columnists say the haka in international rugby has had its day.

Are you saying that that is a lie. Has there really been no comments whatsoever.

[Matt W]

None that I've seen. I'm not saying there haven't been any, but if there are I'd put them in the same camp as the NZ supporters who issued death threats to Wayne Barnes post-RWC. That is to say, a lunatic fringe element. Either that or just as one-eyed as an Aussie sports commentator.

[SoylentGreen]

None that I've seen. I'm not saying there haven't been any, but if there are I'd put them in the same camp as the NZ supporters who issued death threats to Wayne Barnes post-RWC. That is to say, a lunatic fringe element. Either that or just as one-eyed as an Aussie sports commentator.

My my. how interesting . It would seem that our sports news is making things up. Goody i will send in a complaint to the programmers , this could be fun.

[Matt W]

Heh. I doubt they're making things up - like I said, some of the commentators can resemble Aussies in their outlook. But as far as 'mainstream' rugby coverage over here goes, all I've seen is admiration for the way the Welsh faced down the haka.

[Chris the Chees]

I think a bigger concern is that NZ ignore the rules of the game.

[Matt W]

Such as? Everyone knows Richie McCaw plays to the edge and occasionally beyond, but that's what you expect of a captain and great flanker. Richard Hill was much the same, but he was never in the public eye to the same extent - which meant he quietly got along with it, along with Neil Back.

My concern isn't about England v NZ - we're going to get crucified, it's fairly obvious - but more the fact that these Autumn Internationals are just ridiculously monotonous and do nothing for the team or the supporters. The various Unions are raking in the money and sending their teams out to be butchered. Makes no sense at all.