to think that the Haka

[Justforlaughs]

can look either rather scary or really ridiculous depending on the player doing it? Just watching it and laughing at some faces and thinking about hiding behind the sofa from some of the others!

Because efera, it would appear that most of the 70,000+ people are not as rude and disrespectful as you.

Anyone faced with a group of 15 men/women performing the haka cannot say they didn't find it unnerving! There's something about it. We had a visiting team from nz do it before a match and it really does psych you out, although I can't quite put my finger on why. Always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I see one live.

What NotInGuatemala said, but put slightly more eloquently than I was going to phrase it!

The tension and atmosphere at this game was amazing. Challenge accepted........

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6fYIUdVNFgU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D6fYIUdVNFgU

Personally, I'm in favour of Scotland's response to the haka

Efera, I am from NZ (obviously) and if you booed it would be highly disrespectful to NZ/maori culture and i'm sure most people had more respect than that. Plus the All Black are the best team in the world

I don't find it scary at all or embarrassing and at my dd old primary school they did a haka and competition against all the other local primary schools and girls do it, not so much the haka but maori singing and dancing. Also a lot of Primary Schools teach Maori

Te Reo Maori is a compulsory part of the curriculum in NZ. My 2.5 year old can count in Te Reo and knows her colours in both English and Maori and knows lots of songs.

Living overseas I got more emotional during the Haka or hearing our anthem sung in Maori.

Am pretty sure when any All Black does the Haka they mean it.

My sis told me that at an England vs NZ rugby match some years ago the England fans started singing the 'Hokey Cokey' during the haka.

If you've ever been to Twickenham, it is drowned out by the crowd singing Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Not anywhere else in the world afaik and it just makes the fans look petty and jealous.

The Fijian, Samoan and Tongan hakas are pretty incredible too. Check out a Samoan haka
I agree its pretty disrespectful to sing over the top - but it probably fires the ABs up even more!!
Beige (is your name anything to do with Beige Brigade?) I remember that Wales game. What an atmosphere...

On a more lighthearted note, when the world cup was in NZ 2 years ago there were haka flash mobs all over the country - male, female, Maori, non-Maori...check !

I love seeing live Hakas. I am going to a rugby game involving Fiji today and can't wait to see their haka (and the game too of course!)

I remember that game qgainst wal

Try again!

I remember that game against Wales. The atmosphere was amazing.

CanadianJohn

If the Scots ever did that to the ABs, the Scots would lose more than just the match.

I love seeing a haka done properly. I'm less a fan of drunk expatriate NZers doing it while overseas though

(see 2:13)

My dh is kiwi so yesterday everything stopped for the all blacks. It used to annoy me. But since he took me to nz and we watched them play (against the Aussies) I too stop. And watch every match.

I love watching the Haka. We went to waitangi when we were in nz and just by chance there was a recreation if the signing of the treaty. A group of Maori in traditional dress did the Haka before we were allowed onto the treaty ground. It was pretty spectacular and a lot intimidating.

It's tradition. And I thought it was really disrespectful yesterday that the fans sang during it. I was so glad when they won though. That'll learn them.

I love watching it I think it is great even if they do look a bit silly sometimes and good god they are HOT

I love it. And I love to see schoolchildren performing kapahaka. Sends shivers down my spine and tears to my eyes. Those little boys yelling and stamping and beating their chests, it is so primal and heartfelt and powerful.

There always seem to be rows at landsdowne every time nz are in town between half the crowd who think its a tradition and should be respected and the half who think its nonsense to allow the opposition this advantage and stand there in awe of them.

I presume next weekend will be no different.

It is a cultural thing. NZ has for the past 30 or so years been reviving Maori culture to "living and relevant". The haka may seem a joke to those who are unfamiliar with Maori culture but it holds very special meaning here.

My brother was given full-blown Maori haka glamour at his funeral. It was stunning, and deeply moving. A lot more interesting than your average church funeral!

Years ago the NZ team was all white,not a Maori face to be seen,and their "Haka" looked so wrong.I remember it used to make my dad really cross that they did it.

Whale Rider is an awesome film which explains some of the history behind the Haka, in particular why the tongue and the whites of the eyes are important. I always show it at school.

It's also one of the very few films with a strong lead female character.

is one of my favourite Hakas

Really Clawdy? When was that? Was it in the 60s? That seems so strange to me. No wonder your dad was mad about it.

To the person up thread. Purlease? Think about what you are writing. New Zealnd has not 'revived' Maori Culture. It was there. The whole time. It stopped discriminating. It started the 1970s giving children the cane and ended the 70s by making Maori studies part of the national curriculum. Yes the last 30 years have seen all New Zealanders learn more about Maori culture but any revival and pride in Maori culture is down to the pride and hard work of the Maori people.