Haka 101
The New Zealand team perform The Haka ahead of an international
As an All Blacks supporter it's always interesting to see how opposition sides respond to the Haka, and Italy's response in Rome on the weekend spoke volumes about their sides' mindset going in to the match.
After the stadium announcer had introduced the Haka a hush fell around the 75,000-seat stadium as the All Blacks performed the traditional Ka Mate challenge. Sure, this made for an impressive scene “ 23 black-clad warriors in the middle of the field performing their stirring war cry as the crowd look reverentially on.
But the Italian players themselves looked as awe-struck as the crowd. You could almost hear them thinking "look, the All Blacks are doing the Haka. How cool is this?!'.
It's one thing to respect the Haka, but it's another thing to be in absolute awe of it, and despite a brave showing by the home side for much of the match I think the final ten minutes, when the All Blacks piled on three tries, was evidence that the Italians never really believed they had any sort of a chance against the World Champions http://rugbyshirts.net/rugbyworldcup.html
The All Blacks choose to do the Haka, and the opposition is free to choose how they want to respond. Personally, I don't think New Zealanders can criticize an opposing side, no matter how they choose to react. But I do feel that the best way to respond to the Haka is indeed to respect it; to front up to it, to accept the challenge, and to use it for internal motivation, just as the All Blacks do.
For as long as the Haka has been performed teams have tried to figure out cunning ways to respond. Sides have turned their backs on it, advanced on it, wandered down to the other end of the field and run through warm-up drills, or even had musicians on the field to lead the crowd in parochial sing-alongs following it.
But the Haka is a challenge; it's the pre-cursor to a battle. Imagine, if you will, that the combatants weren't rugby players, and were instead boxers, about to fight for the Heavyweight Championship of the World. The Haka is the stare down at the start of the fight. Can you imagine one fighter glaring ferociously at the other, only for that opponent to turn his back, or even worse, shuffle off to his own corner and totally ignore the challenge?
Wouldn't happen. The other boxer would inevitably return the stare, using it to pump themselves up for the battle ahead, and that's what I think is the best response, from an opponents' point of view, to the Haka “ stand in front of it, put your arms around your team-mate, get in tight, and face the challenge. Rather than running away from it or trying to ignore it, accept the challenge, say 'Bring it on!', and get down to business.
The Haka is a very personal thing to the All Blacks, and nothing an opponent does will ever diminish what it means to the players. Disrespecting it might anger the All Blacks, but failing to pay attention to it will never undermine it. Opposition sides would do well to focus on getting something out of the Haka themselves in the way of motivation, excitement etc, rather than trying fruitlessly to lessen the inspiration the All Blacks derive from it. The All Blacks are confident enough as it is, without showing fear, or, as in Italy's case, adoration, to them before the game has even started!
