Haka out, Claymore sword in
After facing haka upon haka on their New Zealand tour, the British and Irish Lions were given a challenge of a different kind by the Highlanders in Dunedin, in the steely shape of a Claymore sword.
A symbol of both the Highlanders and the region’s Scottish heritage, the sword was carried on to the field by former All Black Clarke Dermody and his 10-year-old son Carter.
Now Highlanders scrum coach, Dermody’s uncle Gerald Dermody played for Southland against the 1966 Lions, as his father Gus did against the 1983 tourists.
While the Blues, Crusaders and Chiefs chose to perform haka the Highlanders invoked their Scottish heritage.
Highlanders captain Luke Whitelock had said ‘‘we’re around our values, just trying to be good buggers and help each other out, just a sort of tight family group, and work together as a team’’.
The squad had felt it would not be appropriate to do a haka.
As Dermody walked forward with the sword, the Highlanders formed a flying-V behind him.
Lions skipper Sam Warburton accepted the challenge, then trotted the weapon to the sideline.
Controversy surrounded the Blues haka, which featured a throat-slitting motion, which some felt was a poor encore to a minute’s silence for victims of terrorism in Britain.
The Lions have requested Super Rugby sides perform the haka to prepare them for the tests.
Until the Blues did their haka He Toa Takitini, no Lions side had faced one from any side other than the All Blacks, and Maori.
The sword is a Highlanders symbol, with the warrior on their logo wielding a sword and a shield. ‘‘Modern-day Highlanders play their rugby the same way – ferocious in attack, tenacious on defence,’’ the club said. ●➤ Match report, B12