- 02:25 PM
- 04/16/24
| Name: | jay gee |
|---|---|
| Member since: | November 26, 2006 |
| Last visit: | April 10, 2007 |
noizyboy has posted 0 links and 8 comments to SportsFilter and 0 links and 1 comment to the Locker Room.
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posted by noizyboy at 05:45 PM on March 19, 2007
If the All Blacks were so upset with the timing why didn't they complain earlier. They did. Apparently there'd been toing and froing with regards to the whole silly business since the itinerary was announced months ago. They had said they might not perform the haka on the field if it wasn't before kick-off, and were then true to their word.
posted by noizyboy at 03:10 PM on November 28, 2006
In fact, it's odd that they cite tradition, when the first ever sporting haka was done in Wales in between the anthems. I don't think this was the first instance of a rugby haka being performed, just the first instance of the haka being performed in Wales by the All Blacks. The team had been on tour for quite a while before that game, and had been performing hakas at most, if not all, of those games. Usually, I'd be guessing, before kick-off. It may have been the case that first haka between Wales and the ABs was performed between the anthems, but, since then, it's always before kick-off, after the anthems. Tradition is created by recurrence, not a one-off event that occured 100 years ago.
posted by noizyboy at 06:01 PM on November 27, 2006
The All Whites did peform the haka in Spain in 82. Are you sure? I cannot recall that at all, and I was a soccer-mad kiwi kid at the time who watched every available second of coverage we could get down here. Got any links to evidence? (Frankly the thought of the tight-white-shorts-wearing Steve Sumner, Brian Turner, Wynton Rufer et. al. doing a haka makes me slightly nauseous). I know Webb is from TI Ah, indeed, I was just clarifying that Mason was being a) disrespectful, and b) stupid. There is no tradition of the haka in Wales... Except when NZ plays, perhaps? ;) it does all seem to be a bit of storm in a teacup as to whose tradition trumps whose. I see your anthem, and raise you a haka...
posted by noizyboy at 08:48 PM on November 26, 2006
Britain beat Australia last night, which definitely puts the Kiwis (the holders) out of the Tri Nations. Or not, as the case may be.
posted by noizyboy at 07:53 PM on November 26, 2006
...when Australia's NZ-born Polynesian player (Willie Mason) criticised New Zealand's Australian-born Aboriginal player for taking part in it, while it was happening. Actually, Willie was seen to be saying "F*** Off" to the Kiwis while they performed the haka, which is disrespectful in just about anyone's book. The criticism of Brent Webb (actually a Torres Islander) taking part in the haka took place after the game. Interestingly, the NZ football team (the All Whites) also do the haka, including during their one and only WC appearance in 1982. Errr, no they don't, and no they didn't. Outside of Rugby and League, the only NZ sports team that performs a haka as part of the per-game rituals (that I'm aware of) is the basketball team (the Tall Blacks). I figure that the Welsh have every right to schedule the haka before Land of My Fathers. The Kiwis plainly did not respect the hosts' own traditions. Well, if the Welsh had a tradition of playing the anthem after the haka, then you'd have a point.
posted by noizyboy at 07:28 PM on November 26, 2006
Ahem, don't blame us for that one! A thoroughly English pastime, morris dancing. Aha! My apologies! Do the Welsh have any sort of traditional dance they could whip out? Even if the team just lined up opposite the haka and sung a Welsh favourite, that'd be the go. And the Irish doing Riverdance would certainly give them a psychological edge - the opposition would surely be doubled over with laughter for the first five minutes of the game.
posted by noizyboy at 05:54 PM on November 26, 2006
How many of the All Black team members are actually of Maori descent? A few. 2006 Maori All Blacks include: Carl Hayman, Rico Gear, Piri Weepu, Marty Holah, Leon MacDonald and Luke McAlister. I believe any and all teams have a right to respond however they wish Some teams do. Samoa and Fiji respond with their own war dances. Australia and English crowds sing songs other than their anthem. I think the problem the All Blacks had with the Welsh wanting to sing the Anthem after the haka is that it mucks about with the usual order of how international pre-match rituals are played out. Anthems are performed first, then the haka and any response. It's just a pain to have to form up for the anthem, sing, do a haka, reform for the next anthem, and then play. If the Welsh want to sing (and they can sing better than any sports crowd in the world), then they should just do it without juggling the pre-match schedule to suit them. Or get their own war dance. A touch of morris dancing, perhaps? ;)
posted by noizyboy at 03:29 PM on November 26, 2006
USA V Munster
hey, we're loving the rugby over here thank you very much. And thanks Fence for the heads up on that game - we'll mention it in our rugby podcast next week.