Farewell to haka?
Why seeing rugby’s most iconic ritual in Wales could soon be a thing of the past
THE All Blacks haka, one of rugby’s greatest pieces of theatre, could be facing its greatest threat yet with even the New Zealand rugby fraternity now questioning its future.
A debate has blown up among Kiwis after the release of a book by world-renowned rugby journalist, Irishman Peter Bills, entitled The Jersey which claims to reveal ‘the secrets behind the world’s most successful team’.
While UK and Australian pundits questioning the continuing relevance and fairness of the haka is nothing new, Bills’ book contains comments from several All Blacks criticising its over-use.
There are suggestions that the time has come for it not to be a part of every game New Zealand are involved in. One chapter discusses the concept of All Black identity and former prop Kees Meeuws is quoted as saying about the haka: “It has lost its mana. It has become a showpiece. They should do it at some Test matches, but not all.
“It was good a few years ago when they had a choice. But now they play 14 matches a year and that’s too much as far as the haka is concerned.
“We should either have it at home, or just away from home, like it used to be. Not both.”
Former All Black legend Colin Meads echoed Meeuws’ views in comments made before his death last year. The All Blacks’ mental coach Gilbert Enoka has also previously suggested the players felt ‘haka-ed out’.
While most Welsh rugby fans appear to relish the spectacle of the haka when New Zealand visit Cardiff, there have long been claims that it hands the world champions an unfair advantage in terms of motivation and physically warming up.
The Welsh Rugby Union has previously sought to negate the influence of the haka by having the last pre-match word via an on-pitch singer.
And, in 2006, the All Blacks infamously refused to perform the haka on the field, doing so in private beforehand in protest at Wales’ plan to respond with the home anthem.
Two years later, Wales, led by captain Ryan Jones, famously faced down the haka with an extraordinary stand-off ensuing after the All Blacks had performed the ritual.
Despite several appeals by referee that day Jonathan Kaplan for the teams to retreat for kick-off, neither would budge as the Millennium Stadium crowd went berserk. Eventually both teams filtered into position for the start of combat, but the incident will be long remembered.
New Zealanders have traditionally been fiercely protective of their right to do the haka, which is why the remarks of the likes of Meeuws will resonate.
And while current boss Steve Hansen has said he does not think the haka is over-used, even the New Zealand Herald, the country’s national newspaper, has said it may be time for a re-think.
In an editorial, the newspaper said: “Is it fair in the current rugby environment for the All Blacks to keep their opposition waiting, where the difference between winning and losing can come down to smallest of margins and where losses can lead to the end of coaching and test playing careers?
“The points made in Bills’ book may be hard for some Kiwi rugby nuts to swallow. To even consider such views feels like an act of betrayal towards something which over the past 31 years has been performed before every All Black test.
“But as the All Blacks prepare to kick off their Rugby Championship campaign next weekend, they should be debated.
“Yes, the haka makes us proud. But should the All Blacks still have the right to do it before every match? It is becoming increasingly hard to justify.” During the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand last year even provincial teams took to performing the haka with the Crusaders and Blues both doing a version.
Even the Chiefs went through it ahead of their match against Wales on the 2016 tour. It clearly had the desired effect that night in Hamilton, the hosts thrashing Warren Gatland’s men 40-7.