The History of people challenging the Haka

It's 1st time posting an article on here so no idea where it should go im guessing at Internationals

I was reading through a e-mail i received and came with a link towards something i thought you guys would find interesting

France have been fined £2,500 for passing over their 10 metre line during New Zealand's haka, before their World Cup final defeat.

The IRB, in their infinite wisdom, decided that the French had gone too far, when Thierry Dusautoir led his team-mates towards the All Blacks.

The Fench captain said: "At one stage we were so close to them that they wanted to kiss the New Zealanders, but I told them to take it easy. It was a great moment and a moment we will remember all our lives."

The news was greeted with universal derision across the rugby world, as fans and officials agreed that the IRB had once again made consummate boobs of themselves.

There is a long and glorious tradition of haka responses in rugby -- here are our favourites.

The haka has been performed before international rugby matches since 1889. However it hasn't always been the fearsome pre-battle challenge we know and love today. In the 70s the All Blacks didn't seem to give it quite so much gusto, with the eventual dance coming off more like a dads' rendition of the Leftfield's Saturday Night at some distant cousin's horrendous social club 18th birthday party.

Haka from 1973

By the late 80s the haka was similar to the war dance we all know and love. One of the first haka responses came when the All Blacks took on Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 1989, with captain lock, Willie Anderson, leading his side right into the middle of the haka. Didn't help much though, as New Zealand ran out comfortable winners.

Willie Anderson challenges the Haka

During the 1991 World Cup, Australian talisman David Campese decided to ignore the haka altogether and practised his kicking while it was going on. It was obviously the right thing to do, as the charismatic wing lead his Australia team through their semi-final with the All Blacks, an on to beat England in the final. It wasn't the last time the Aussies had ignored the haka, doing it again in 1996, with the whole team doing training drills while it happened.


Probably the most famous haka response came in the final of the 1995 World Cup, when Francois Pienaar led his South Africa side to within a metre of the All Blacks. South Africa won the match and Nelson Mandela awarded the Boks the Webb Ellis trophy in what was probably the sports' finest moment.

Rugby World Cup 1995: New Zealand perform haka in final

England have traditionally been very respectful during the haka, though in 1997, during a test played at Old Trafford, England hooker Richard Cockrill sought out All Black number two, and stood toe-to-toe with him during the haka. Cockerill was later reprimanded, though he feels he did the right thing at the time. England lost the game 25 - 8.

Richard Cockerill stands up to the Haka 1997

Before a Bledisoe cup match in 1999 against Australia, the 107,000 strong crowd in the Telstra stadium in Sydney responded to the haka with a stirring rendition of Waltzing Matilda. Australia then went on to administer New Zealand's largest ever international defeat, running out 28 - 8 winners.

In 2005 the All Blacks agreed to perform the haka after the New Zealand national anthem, but before the Welsh sang Land of my Fathers. This was how the pre-match ceremonies had gone when the teams first met over 100 years ago, and it created a brilliant spectacle. However, when Wales asked for the custom to be repeated in 2006, New Zealand refused and instead did the haka in the changing room instead.

New Zealand VS Wales

The All Black weren't too keen on having their challenge met with a volley of rousing singing from the opposition. Although they found themselves once again on the end of the dulcet tones of northern hemipshere rugby fans in 2008 when the haka was all but drowned out by an English rendition of Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

Haka drowned out by England fans

The French decided to get in on the act during the 2007 World Cup, standing right in front of the haka wearing the red, white and blue of the Tricolour. And rarely, the tactic seemed to work, with France knocking out the All Blacks, 20 - 17.

France stand up to New Zealand

A brilliant moment came when the All Blacks took on Munster in 2008, when four New Zelanders playing in the Irish side performed their own haka back at the New Zealanders

Munster players do Haka vs New Zealand

One of the most stirring haka responses of recent years came when New Zealand took on Wales at the Millennium Stadium later in the All Blacks' 2008 northern hemisphere tour. After the haka Wales stood stock-still and the two teams stared each other down.

Wales go nowhere


Hope you all enjoy this and be interested to hear of some that haven't be included in this article

Link: http://www.asylum.co.uk/2011/10/26/haka-responses-history-video/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk%7Cdl4%7Csec3_lnk4%7C83666