Okay, so we lost the war but we won a battle.
The All Blacks traditionally perform the haka before a rugby game. It's seen as a challenge, a demonstration of what the opposition can expect. "More than any aspect of Maori culture, this complex dance is an expression of the passion, vigour and identity of the race." (from the All Blacks website)
The haka is performed after the anthems and before kick off. Normally once it's completed, both teams move to their positions and the game commences. Yesterday at the Millennium Stadium, Wales took a different approach. Ryan Jones, the Welsh captain, explained it thus: "What we were trying to show was that it was our stadium, our pitch, our fans and we weren't prepared to give up the ground."
The Welsh team did that by lining up to face the haka and then standing their ground. The referee ran from side to side, pleading with the teams to start the game and it was the All Blacks who cracked first.
It must have spooked them and boosted Wales because our first half was great. (We won't talk about the second half.)
So here's the haka - in case you've never seen it - and the response. Followed by the Welsh national anthem (specially for Welshcakes and Damon Lord and any one else who experiences hiraeth.)
And here's me getting my hopes up!
9 comments:
Never mind - they did better than England.
There are American college football teams with a contingent of Samoan players who do a similar dance.
Ah, too bad, but they stood up to those Maoris at the beginning! :)
Not mentioning England obviously... :-(
I've seen the haka performed, when we were in NZ, and it's quite intimidating - which is, of course, the intent! I admire the Welsh players for giving a suitable response to the challenge.
I'd kind of like to see the All Blacks square up to a Scottish team giving their traditional 'war cry' though. Didn't it involve rude gestures, and throwing their kilts up to show their naughty bits before rushing forward screaming like banshees?
Ermm, Liz,
can you explain please why you are wearing a T-shirt with the word
'Brains' down there ???
Or does it belong to a dyslexic called Brian? ;-)
Indeed they did, aileni.
Yes, katney, it's an old Maori tradition with a variety of dances. Haka is the generic name apparently.
Oh they did, leslie!
Would I mention England's crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa, furtheron?
Now that would be fun, jay!
At least they're higher than most men's, stu!!
Thanks for the reminder of Wales. Loved the haka, although numerous people think I'm not really Welsh as I don't follow the rugby!
I'll let you off, Damon!
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