Were the Welsh right to ask to respond to the Haka?

Question

The Welsh wanted to sing a hymn in response to the All Blacks Haka on Saturday but the All Blacks didn't want them to. Should the All Blacks be allowed to psyche themselves up before a match and the opposition given no chance to respond, because the a Haka is normally met with a response. I'm English and I think the Welsh were right and the All Blacks childish to do the Haka inside the changing room

Answer 1

I think that the rugby authorities were wrong (not the welsh people).  Mind you ALL rugby authorities are still living in the 50s - as someone said "boring old farts".

Answer 2

I, as a kiwi, would love a team to phyche themselves up before a game. Give them Steroids as well, so we don't keep beating the by 40 points, its just getting boring.

On a more serious side, I would like to see a respond from the home side. but I do not want to see the anthem as a response, that would be insanely stupid.

Answer 3

Difficult one as modern tradition has led to the Haka becoming a showpiece. It is right that the "opposition" should be allowed to respond, but this has never happened before on the rugby pitch.

Answer 4

I'm Welsh and yes they were in Cardiff as our guests, it was a bit rude for them to tell us what we could and couldn't do!

Answer 5

it was a real pity, every rugby fan would have loved to seen  the haka, and as a challenge deserves a response.  personnally I think it back fired as shown by awesome display by the all blacks,  they're pretty useful any way without upsetting them before ko   : )

Answer 6

why should the kiwis be able to perform an intimidating dance and the welsh not be allowed to do something back? Very arrogant from the kiwis.

Answer 7

The WRU, did inform the NZRFU in October that the haka would be preformed in between  the anthems, but Saturday morning the AB's said no to this idea!

Two years ago, after the haka was preformed, "Bread of Heaven" was sung under a closed roof, I was in Cardiff that day, and this could be heard outside the ground, the atmosphere was terrific and the AB's looked stunned! It was one h**l of a game and Wales lost by one point, we took them all the way!

Could this be the reason they would not allow it (doubt it) but it did psyche the welsh players and fans up!

At the end of the day,  the home team all over the world in all sports have the last say before KO, so who are the AB's to dictate to Wales what they do in their own house!

Both the WRU and the AB's were being very churlish in this matter and should have come to some agreement!

Answer 8

If a team wants to they should be allowed to respond to the Haka. I personally would laugh at all these big butch men MORRIS DANCING in the mddle of a rugby pitch. A hymn from the welsh wouldnt be much more scarier though.

Answer 9

I'm a Spingbok supporter but feel that the Welsh were wrong to ask the All Blacks to perform their haka between anthems.

The haka is a war dance and therefore should be performed directly before the "battle", unlike a hymn.

The team facing the haka can also psyche themselves up by watching the haka. Looking at South Africa vs New Zealand games in the past, the SA crowd also gets involved and we start singing our rugby songs as the haka is being performed. The crowd gets so loud, that you can hardly even hear the haka.

The last game I watch between us the All Blacks, the Sprinboks  looked more psyched up after the haka - the All Blacks looked even a little embarrassed after the crowd (and the players) loudly accepted the challenge laid down.

Since you are English, the crowd and even the players could sing "Swing Low" as a suitable response.

I do not think that the All Blacks were childish. The haka has been performed just before the game for basically as long as the All Blacks have been around and I don't think that it should change now. After this whole incident, the only ones left with egg on their faces are the Welsh Rugby Union.

Answer 10

the haka is used in all games maybe the welsh should have let them do it so they could throw leeks at them in responce.or they just needed max Boyce on the field. he may be tied of black magic. i know cos i was there

Answer 11

I wouldn't have bothered asking.  The Welsh rugby fraternity are renowned for their wonderful singing and it would have been great to hear the Millenium Stadium ringing with that glorious sound.  It is great to see the Haka performed as well, what a pity it wasn't performed on Saturday as it has been since time began when New Zealand All Blacks visit our shores.

Please let us forget all this childishness that has arisen from that errant Kiwi journalist's ill-judged article about Welsh rugby.  Let us get back to the days when there was mutual respect between old foes on the rugby pitch, where oneupmanship gives way to a celebration of exciting rugby.

Answer 12

Yes, if the Kiwi's want to do their part at intimidation, there should be scope for a response.  Although I'm not quite sure how scary a hymn would've been.

Answer 13

we were right to say no.

Answer 14

Teams should be allowed to prepare themselves for the game as they see fit providing it is not to the detriment of the crowd or the opposition.

It is tradition for national anthems to be played at certain games and nobody denies this right or tribute to national pride so their should be no difference here. If the All Blacks want to perform the Hakka as their mental preparation then the Welsh team should be allowed their anthem. I watched this game from home and was most disappointed not to see the full Hakka... I think a lot of fans would agree with this. Childish behaviour spoils the nature of the game.

I took my son to Murrayfield (despite being English!!) to watch Scotland play the Pacific Islanders and it was a great atmosphere. A pipe band, the Scottish anthem and then the Pacific Islanders did their own pysche dance... well worth the trip.

Answer 15

the only way to respond to the haka is to beat the All Blacks - as we have done before.  Lamentably - I don't see us doing so in the near future - do you?