Where do you get the idea that the other team attempting to meet the challenge of the haka is an insult? The Aussies who walked off and warmed up were insulting, but those who do their own haka back (Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, etc) are respected for it. Those who stand defiantly are also respected as far as I have always seen.

The IRB set a rule about not overstepping the ten metre distance mark from any cultural display, and when France did the other night the first group to stand up and call on the IRB to not fine France was the All blacks. But the IRB are muppets so they did anyway.

By the way, the Antional Anthems and the haka are part of the opening ceremony. The game doesnt begin till the referee blows his whistle.

I think the Poms have long had a chip on their shoulder because they didn’t think of such an awesome challenge themselves first. No-one would be upset though if they came up with one now. Surely they could draw on something from their past that is challenging, bloodcurdling and sets the hair on the neck going?

Or does England really only have Morris dancing, the maypole, chim chiminy charoo, bowler hats and umbrellas?

Pee Dee, why shouldn’t it continue? Tonga has one, Manu Samoa has one, Fiji has one, NZ is not alone, why stop it?

Asking why a haka should be allowed these days is anti-culture, bordering on prejedice, just like saying why do they allow the Welsh crowds to sing, or the English to display the flag of St George, or the South Africans playing those annouing trumpets. The haka has been part of the colour of international rugby for well over a century.

I don’t inderstand why you lot are all so anti-haka, most of the English and international crowds love it, it’s extremely popular. I guess you’re still in the post English-team-meltdown depression and have to lash out at others?

Kev, I did not say they laid down their weapons and did the actions in full view of German MG42’s. Your imagination embelleished that. However I have been told by many soldiers that as the Maoris advanced on positions, rather than go quietly they got the haka chant going vocally as they advanced. You get several companies of men all pumped up for battle along a line screaming out a haka, it’s going to confuse you a bit as the enemy, I’m sure.

Don’t forget that the haka you are all familiar with, the All Black’s ‘Kamate Kamate’ haka, is only one haka of many. Every tribe has its own, and each tribe probbaly has several. That particular one was written by a very famous Maori warrior named Te Reparaha, from memory. These days the there is a second All Black Haka written a few years back by the All Blacks themselves, which is the one with the throat slashing action that the opposition love so much. But as I say there are many different haka and not all of them require actings, they are simply war chants. My great uncle Ted and others who i’ve talked with who were in Italy said if other NZ Division battalions advanced on the enemy they used stealth and cover to try to get as close to the enemy before being seen. But they had watched the Maori Battalion advance in full war cry, with all their gear clanking as the moved, and oftfen other noise making effect too such as clanging pots. My uncle said it made the hair on your neck stand up and he was on their side.

The Maori were renowned as among the toughest fighters on the Allied side and the Germans feared them, so knowing they were on their way had a psychological effect I guess. It had always been the same through Maori history of course, that’s why the haka exists.

See here about Billy Drake:
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=111571

Thinking about it, there are even less living RNZAF fighter pilots who flew P-40’s in action in the Pacific now during the Battle of the Solomon Islands, there are probably less than 10 now. Time is marching on, sadly.

That’s sad to see.

I was just looking at the Battle of Britain Society’s Surviving Aircrew page just before I opened this thread, here:
http://battleofbritain1940.net/bobhsoc/index.html

The numbers are growing small these days, and many of those on the list have recently passed away including Billy Drake, John Gard’ner, Allan Bennison and now Mr Sawicz. There are very few survivors now.

New Zealand only has three survivors now, Keith Lawrence who lives in the UK, Bernie Brown and Alan Gawith, plus Roy McGowan who lives here but is originally British.

Who is deluding who’s self?

The last game was indeed a narrow win – and that is exactly what nuuumannn posted, and no-one here has denied that. But who gives a toss if it were narrow or a cakewalk? A win is a win, and it was an exciting win and regardless of the last match’s score line the New Zealanders had the most convincing tournament of any team in the World Cup 2011.

But whatever anyone from NZ might say right now you’ll still troll away here with your negative comments. Frankly I don’t give a damn about you and your opinion. I am proud of my nation’s team and their achievements and I am happy to celebrate that fact.

I’m not surprised you find Lionel Blair attractive.

Lionel Blair would be a better player than most of the English team too. Even at his age.