Comments on: Understanding Rugby: The Haka

By: Chase86

Chase86 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:25:30 +0000

I would have to say that I would hate to see the Haka removed from the game. It has been around for over a hundred years. It is a tradition and should remain in the game. If the Aussies had a dance or something at the start of every game for over a hundred years and people wanted to snuff it out would you be willing to take it away? The point is that this is a tradition and how often in this world do normal people get to see culture like this? keep the Haka where it belongs, On the field before each game.

By: A year in review, here « With Malice…

A year in review, here « With Malice… — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:10:04 +0000

[...] Understanding Rugby: The Haka [August 6, 07] Written just prior to the Rugby World Cup, a look at one of the most recognizable [...]

By: daveo63

daveo63 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:13:17 +0000

I am an American that was just introduced to the Haka by a girl at work. She mentioned her high school football team performed it before their football games.
Watched some videos of the ALL BLACKS vs. TONGA pregame haka, and the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
GOOD STUFF!!
It takes balls to stand there and watch it performed, and then TONGA did their own war dance right back at them. Even ballsier…
RUGBY has now replaced american football as my sport of choice.
The teamwork involved in performing it correctly helps build the TEAM mentality.
Think as one, play as one…
It may account for quite a bit of the teams success

By: withmalice

withmalice — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:53:25 +0000

No.
[edit].
Idea.
From someone running an advert-board masquerading as a blog.
BTW, removing the link on your name…

By: Pago

Pago — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:01:14 +0000

I think the Haka is a waste of time and should be done in the change rooms prior to going on the field. Why do a few nations get the opportunity to perform in front of the others for a psychological advantage? Why are the other teams forced to watch such rubbish? The fact that many of the All Blacks have no connection to Maori culture makes it even more bizarre. Perhaps the Wallabies/Springboks/Pumas could do the Haka too with as much relevance? Tana Umaga lead the aka as a Samoan, Rockokoko(?), Jerry Collins, Nonu, and many others are as much Maori as they are Chinese. Perhaps Felix Wong will lead a Haka in the future. Keep it in the change rooms and get on with the game.

By: tony mora

tony mora — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:30:57 +0000

I’m a Melburnian and get a kick out of the All Blacks’ haka when they play us. I reckon you blokes who don’t like it are just wimps - jealous because all we can do is sing Waltzing bloody Matilda. Good on the Kiwis for sticking with an indigenous tradition for 100 years so it’s got class and pedigree that no amount of anti-branding whingeing can devalue. Kiwiland is a small place but boy, hasn’t its rugby generations done it proud! We tease the shaky islanders about it but really, it’s a passion we Aussies should respect and understand given that we’re sporting mad ourselves and hate losing. So NZ is better at rugby than we are - usually. Can’t we afford to be generous? Sure, let the Boks and others get something going with an ad agency’s help - but you can’t give it the century of performance and respect the haka has.
Best thing we can do is watch politely then try to tear the black bs to pieces!

By: War dance « Bradley Simpson

War dance « Bradley Simpson — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:47:04 +0000

[...] far the best of these pre-game war dances is that done by the All Blacks of [...]

By: withmalice

withmalice — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:22:47 +0000

Was my pleasure. I got quite a bit out of doing this piece.

By: sslover314kboxguy

sslover314kboxguy — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:24:57 +0000

Dude, great piece on NZ’S hakas and ty for translating kapa o pongo into english.

By: Understanding Rugby: Other War Dances « With Malice…

Understanding Rugby: Other War Dances « With Malice… — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:34:37 +0000

[...] Understanding Rugby: Other War Dances 31 08 2007 I’m posting this after getting a request as to what other war dances exist that are performed at the beginning of Rugby… after doing my piece on the All Black haka, Understanding Rugby: The Haka. [...]