Calls for the All Blacks’ haka to be BANNED after England were fined for their V-shaped response to the pre-game challenge during the World Cup
- England responded to New Zealand’s haka with a V-shaped formation
- The team fanned out from captain Owen Farrell and some stepped over halfway
- World Rugby have fine England for their actions ahead of the semi-final
There are growing calls for the All Blacks’ famous haka to be banned from the rugby field – after England were fined for their unorthodox formation during the team’s World Cup victory against New Zealand.
Eddie Jones’ team stood in a ‘V’ formation to accept the traditional Kiwi pre-match ‘war’ challenge with some players crossing the halfway line – despite protocols dictating the opposing team must remain in their own half.
The decision by England to breach the protocol has seen them hit with a nominal four-figure fine.
But the controversy over the haka – and England’s response to it – have led to a push from some for the pre-game tradition to be banned completely because it has a ‘negative’ impact on the game.
New Zealand sports commentator Chris Rattue claims the haka has been taking away the players focus and concentration and sapping their energy at the start of each match.
‘It is time to consider letting the haka go or placing it somewhere else, in the name of winning,’ he wrote in the New Zealand Herald.
England players were defiant as New Zealand prepared to perform the Haka – with Eddie Jones’ men lining up in formation and moving as close as possible to the All Blacks before the crucial World Cup semi-final
The referee even had to warn Joe Marler and his team-mates to move back in order to allow the Kiwis to carry out their famous routine before the crucial semi-final
Irish rugby writer, Ewan MacKenna, sparked outrage earlier this month when he penned a piece calling for the pre-match ritual to be banned – but his reasons were quite different to Rattue’s.
He claimed the haka gave New Zealand an unfair advantage.
He also claimed the World Cup were ‘pandering to the dance’.
‘That’s unfortunate as New Zealand are justifiably big-headed enough without a massaging of their already massive egos.’
Owen Farrell was caught on camera smirking at the New Zealand haka ahead of the semi-final
Former England hooker Brian Moore even said he was ‘bored’ with it.
Sports columnist Kevin Kevin Norquay fired back, defending the haka as a ‘national treasure’.
‘When an Irish shock jock column writer wants the haka banned it’s blarney, akin to Kiwis telling the Irish there’s too much Guinness in the world,’ he wrote.
The haka has been a point of contention during the Rugby World Cup this year.
England players revealed afterwards that the V-shape was the idea of their coach Eddie Jones, with Mako Vunipola admitting afterwards that ‘we knew it would rile them up.’
Captain Farrell was pictured smirking while the dance was performed, with New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith saying afterwards that Farrell winked at him.
The amount of the fine was not revealed but in 2011, France were docked $3,200 after they formed an arrowhead shape and marched towards the haka before the World Cup final in Auckland.
Several England players spilled over into the New Zealand half and were told to step back
France were fined £2,500 for forming a V-shape and advancing on the haka in the 2011 final
Before England made waves with their V-formation Irish fans caused a stir during with their own pre-game shenanigans.
As the All Blacks began their ceremonial war cry, Irish fans were heard blaring the lyrics to folk ballad The Fields Of Athenry.
According to World Rugby rules, teams must stand at least 10 metres apart during the Haka performance. However, this was introduced as a safeguard after several attempts to unnerve the All Blacks in years gone by.
The France team linked arms and walked up to within metres of the New Zealand team in 2011