Rugby World Cup 2011

[AZOffaly]

I don't think it is rubbish, but I do think it's part of the All Black Brand.

Still raises the hair on my neck when I see them do it in a big game. If they didn't do it for every test it might be a bit more meaningful as distinct from being part of the package.

If Dublin win the All-Ireland would you be happy to hear Brand Dublin been talked about? I use Dublin in this context as they would be the most obvious county to commercialise...

Call me a traditionalist but I hate when people refer to sports teams as a brand, talk about losing your soul and identity..

I'm agreeing with you Dinny. However, you said it was commercialist rubbish, I don't think it's rubbish, but I do think it's related to the brand. Maybe I should have put 'Brand' in quotes.

[Dinny Breen]

What the Haka has become to me is rubbish, teams aren't allowed confront as per Willie Anderson above, there is a strict 10m no go-zone enforced, they are forced to stand and watch as NZ get their mental focus up.

Wales wanted to perform their National Anthem after the Haka a few years ago and NZ responded with 'That's a lack of respect' and did their Haka in the dressing room I kid you not. To me that is rubbish not the actual war dance but the bullsh*t around it.

To me the actual war dance, the hype around it, teams forced to respectfully stand and watch it (loved it years ago when Campese played kick uppies in his own 22) is a distinct competitive advantage and is against the spirit of sport. This is of course just my opinion.

[anglocelt39]

What the Haka has become to me is rubbish, teams aren't allowed confront as per Willie Anderson above, there is a strict 10m no go-zone enforced, they are forced to stand and watch as NZ get their mental focus up.

Wales wanted to perform their National Anthem after the Haka a few years ago and NZ responded with 'That's a lack of respect' and did their Haka in the dressing room I kid you not. To me that is rubbish not the actual war dance but the bullsh*t around it.

To me the actual war dance, the hype around it, teams forced to respectfully stand and watch it (loved it years ago when Campese played kick uppies in his own 22) is a distinct competitive advantage and is against the spirit of sport. This is of course just my opinion.

Yeah Campo showed it fair respect all right but not as much as Phil Kearns who got up and laughed into Sean Fitzpatricks face as he was doing the jig. Now that was fair crack. Totally fair game as far as I'm concerned, where in the ancient rules of the game does it state that some countries are allowed to do a dance AND the opposition must look on respectfully. Personally I quite enjoy the spectacle but no mistake it's clearly designed to give the AB's a bit of an edge. So let them at it and let the opposition deal with it in whatever way they see fit.

[Denn Forever]

The Haka is a war dance?

Saying we are going to attack and kill you?

Ahh, right so.

[mc_grens]

I don't think it is rubbish, but I do think it's part of the All Black Brand.

Still raises the hair on my neck when I see them do it in a big game. If they didn't do it for every test it might be a bit more meaningful as distinct from being part of the package.

If Dublin win the All-Ireland would you be happy to hear Brand Dublin been talked about? I use Dublin in this context as they would be the most obvious county to commercialise...

Call me a traditionalist but I hate when people refer to sports teams as a brand, talk about losing your soul and identity..

Indeed. Couldn't agree more. As an extension of that I hate the whole selling of naming rights for stadiums, etc.

[AZOffaly]

The Haka is a war dance?

Saying we are going to attack and kill you?

Ahh, right so.

It's not actually. The Haka the All Blacks do is something about a lad being found in a hole or something. I think they still do that one. Haka is a name for all of these dances, what the All Blacks do is the 'Ka Mate'

'he Maori haka performed by the All Blacks, has become famous around the world, though few realise it's origin or meaning.

Te Rauparaha, the warrior chief of Ngati Toarangatira, originally from Kawhia, had visited Tuwharetoa to solicit aid against the Waikato and Ngati Maniapoto tribes.

That aid was refused him because of his treachery some years before when he had attacked and killed some of Ngati te Aho at Te Onepu.

It seems that the party had planned to descend to Lake Rotoaira to procure fish when one said, 'Why go fishing - there is food for the taking,' and he pointed to the smoke rising from the Ngati te Aho village.

Te Heuheu Herea, who was himself related to Ngati Maniapoto, softened the refusal by advising Te Rauparaha to follow the forest track over Ponanga Saddle to seek refuge with Te Wharerangi at Motu 0 Puhi.

However, when he arrived there, Te Rauparaha found that Te Wharerangi, although hostile to him, felt obliged to extend some protection to his unwelcome guest against the taua (war party) led by Tauteka and already in hot pursuit.

Accordingly, he told Te Rauparaha to seek refuge in an empty kumara pit nearby empty kumara pit nearby and then asked his wife, Te Rangikoaea, to seat herself over the entrance to the pit.

As the chiefs of the pursuing party approached Rotoaira, they recited incantations to enable them to locate the whereabouts of Te Rauparaha.

Thus led to believe that he was at Motu 0 Puhi, they chanted further incantations to prevent him from escaping southward, and as Te Rauparaha sat crouched in the pit he began to feel the effects of the spells being cast on him.

In addition to assisting in the concealment of the Ngati Toa chief, the main reason why Te Rangi koaea was ordered to sit over the pit was because of the neutralising effect that she, as a woman, had on incantations.

The female genital organs were supposed to have this power and, as influence of the incantations reached Te Rauparaha, he felt their effects bejng neutralised by the chieftainess sitting above him.

He imagined them being whirled round and round and being absorbed, and, to give vent to his feelings, he exclaimed,

Aha ha!

Kikiki kakaka kauana!

Kei waniwania taku tara

Kei tarawahia, kei te rua it te kerokero!

Then he realised that the protecting powers of the chieftainess could be destroyed if amatory advances were made by her husband, and that to save himself he would have to be watchful and see that his protector was not disturbed.

Thus he whispered:

He Pounga rahui te uira ka rarapa;

Ketekete kauana to peru kairiri.

Mau au e koro e

Hi! Ha!

Ka wehi au ka matakana.

Ko wai te tangata kia rere ure? Tirohanga nga rua rerarera

Nga rua kuri kakanui i raro!

When the pursuers arrived, they enquired of Te Wharerangi whether he had seen Te Rauparaha and were informed that he had fled in the direction of the Rangipo desert.

For a moment they did not believe him, but later hurried off in pursuit.

When all was clear, Te Wharerangi asked his wife to let Te Rauparaha out.

During the time Tauteka was talking to Te Wharerangi, Te Rauparaha muttered under his breath...

'Aha ha! Ka mate, ka mate!' - 'I die, 1 die!'

When his pursuers were convinced he was not in Te Wharerangi's pa but had made for Taranaki, he exclaimed, 'Ka ora, ka ora! Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru nana nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te ra!' - 'I live, I live! For this is the hairy man who has fetched the sun and caused it to shine again!

As he took his first two steps out of the pit, he said, 'hupane, kaupane!' and as he stood clear he shouted, 'whiti te ra!' - 'The sun shines!'

Going on to the courtyard of Te Wharerangi and before Te Rangikoaea and the assembled people, Te Rauparaha performed his famous haka...

Aha ha!

Kiki kakaka kauana

Kei waniwaniwa taku tara.

Kei tarawahia, kei te rua i te kerokero!

He pounga rahui te uira ka rarapa;

Ketekete kau ana to peru kairiri

Mau au e koro e

Hi! Ha!

Ka wehi au ka matakana,

Kowai te tangata kia rere ure?

Tirohanga nga rua rerarera

Nga rua kuri kakanui i raro!

aha ha!

A Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
   

I die! I die! I live! I live!

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
   

I die! I die! I live! I live!

Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
   

This is the hairy man

Nana nei i tiki mai
   

Who fetched the Sun

Whakawhiti te ra
   

And caused it to shine again

A upa ... ne! ka upa ... ne!
   

One upward step! Another upward step!

A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
   

An upward step, another.. the Sun shines!!

Hi !!'

[andoireabu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUHwCjeD7s&feature=related

Willie Anderson goes toe to toe with Buck Shelford at Lansdowne Rd 1989

these boys didnt just stand and take it either!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGCsEQ15L4

[screenexile]

Is that what it was like this morning or did they wait for one another to finish?

[AZOffaly]

They waited. That incident almost sparked a diplomatic outcry

[nrico2006]

What the Haka has become to me is rubbish, teams aren't allowed confront as per Willie Anderson above, there is a strict 10m no go-zone enforced, they are forced to stand and watch as NZ get their mental focus up.

Wales wanted to perform their National Anthem after the Haka a few years ago and NZ responded with 'That's a lack of respect' and did their Haka in the dressing room I kid you not. To me that is rubbish not the actual war dance but the bullsh*t around it.

To me the actual war dance, the hype around it, teams forced to respectfully stand and watch it (loved it years ago when Campese played kick uppies in his own 22) is a distinct competitive advantage and is against the spirit of sport. This is of course just my opinion.

Well said, if they can get away with making throat slashing gestures on the field of play at their opponents then why can they opposition not do what they want.  There should be no rule in the sport for the haka FFS, its not part of the game and no team should have to obide by restrictions because of it.  The Australian womens team got in bother over it too:

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/wallabies-face-fine-for-any-haka-high-jinks-before-bledisloe-test-20100909-153c9.html

[Capt Pat]

Should Fionn Carr have gone to the world cup? He is playing well for Leinster at the moment. He could look like a superstar when he gets to play with the full Leinster A team. He woukd be similar to Ashton as a player.

[ExcellentDriver]

I don't think it is rubbish, but I do think it's part of the All Black Brand.

Still raises the hair on my neck when I see them do it in a big game. If they didn't do it for every test it might be a bit more meaningful as distinct from being part of the package.

If Dublin win the All-Ireland would you be happy to hear Brand Dublin been talked about? I use Dublin in this context as they would be the most obvious county to commercialise...

Call me a traditionalist but I hate when people refer to sports teams as a brand, talk about losing your soul and identity..

+1.

[Donnellys Hollow]

Should Fionn Carr have gone to the world cup? He is playing well for Leinster at the moment. He could look like a superstar when he gets to play with the full Leinster A team. He woukd be similar to Ashton as a player.

He should have stayed playing football for Ardclough!

[Armaghgeddon]

Why am I watching this shite. Scotland and Romania are poor enough.
The commentators chat shite to.
Ha. Scottish defence is shite, try for Romania.

[Celt_Man]

Why am I watching this shite. Scotland and Romania are poor enough.
The commentators chat shite to.
Ha. Scottish defence is shite, try for Romania.

First 20 minutes was competitive enough stuff anyway - had enough and called it a day, up early to watch tail end of Frenchies and then hopefully the wheels coming off the chariot!!