Confronting the Haka

Now that the RWC is done and dusted, I’d like to mention something that has bothered me for many years. No international team has yet devised a way of answering the Haka. On Sunday, the French came closest with their arrow formation which was a step in the right direction – if you’ll pardon the almost pun.

Are there any on this Forum who recall that the traditional way of accepting a challenge to battle is for a representative to step forward and throw down in front of the opposition a gauntlet (glove). This is a centuries old tradition which with the advent of warfare conducted at a distance fell into disuse. I think that England at least should readopt this distinctive act of defiance.

John Green