2023 Rugby World Cup

[KnickerlessParsons]

Can't find a thread so thought I'd start one nice and early for some pre chat.

Really don't think either England or Wales are going to get out of the pool rounds 🙁

Am sad that the All Blacks didn’t win but SA deserved. Was glad that the captain was black who raised the cup 👏

Thank you.

But why do they need to do the haka in the first place? They aren't going to war. And why does the opposing team (of a different culture) have to stand and watch the haka?

To non haka-doers, it's an annoying and pretentious waste of time.

Well, England could always morris dance.

Personally, I love the haka.

The other teams don't have to stand and watch if they don't want to, Australia on occasion just went off and did warm ups, the other Pacific Island teams do their own haka. To me its part of the tradition and atmosphere. Maybe one day if there is push back from hosts they will only do it in NZ, I feel like a lot of other people still enjoy it though.

It's just tradition and I quite enjoy watching the team do the Haka. It gets them into the right state of mind to get out there and do what they need to do. And I suppose also it's a little intimidating towards the opposing team.

So I am one happy chappy today. But my goodness that was yet again a nerve wracking game. When Bongi went out in the first few minutes. After the week he has been though as well.

I am sure you can imagine the vibe here in SA. I only got home in the wee hours and people were still out in the streets.

Apparently we are being awarded a public holiday (i think we as the people earned it for the sheer amount of stress we've endured 😃)so I imagine that will be when the Boks get home and do their parade.

Thanks @KnickerlessParsons for starting this thread, it's been great to be a part of for a last couple of months.

Ireland, it has been jokingly suggested, could do a type of Riverdance. 😂

To non haka-doers, it's an annoying and pretentious waste of time.

I saw a rugby haka from years ago recently and boy was it different. A lot less aggressive and warrior like.

Personally I think NZ should choose the haka or an anthem but I don't think it's fair on the other teams to have both. Every country has cultural traditions but they can be done elsewhere, in the changing rooms or wherever. For me, it gives the ABs an unfair psychological advantage.

I wanted NZ to win last night, it's always a shame when there's a red card in the final, even if it's justified.

Riverdance is a tacky, commercialised travesty of actual Irish dance, so, assuming the haka has some actual cultural significance, it would probably be fairly insulting to the ABs (and other teams who do equivalent — Tonga?)

Didn’t the England team get into trouble once for not respecting the Haka? They stood in a triangle shape or something.

They did. Joe Marler got confused at the side of the arrow and stood over the halfway line.

I love the haka but my partner who is English said that the year that England beat NZ in the semifinal they lined up in a kind of arrow and walked towards the AB team.

New Zealand (and other nations that perform it) getting to do the Haka isn’t a special rule for them. It’s just a general world rugby rule about cultural challenges, any team can do one at the start they just have to say in the Captains run that they intend to do a cultural challenge. Most countries don’t have anything they want to do.

Teams don’t have to face it, the only rule is that they can’t cross the half way line - I think England got fined for crossing the line in their V.

Eh @MyFetch, it was a joke.

Thanks everybody, I've enjoyed this thread and all the rugby chat too.
Look back at the early posts about how awful England was all the way back in August, and think on how well they did in the RWC!

See you all for the Six Nations next year, although I'm looking forward to Wales v Baa Baas next weekend first. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

We've also got the new Nations Cup (or whatever it's called) to look forward too. I can't quite understand how that's going to work.

We've also got the new Nations Cup (or whatever it's called) to look forward too. I can't quite understand how that's going to work.

I read somewhere that the second tier teams don't have the possibility of promotion for 8 years. Which sounds an odd setup if you want to make global rugby more inclusive and improve standards.

I was in transit this weekend and haven't seen the game yet. I'll watch it tomorrow. I expected (and mildly hoped) that the ABs would win, but all credit to SA for getting over them. I like the haka, whether it's NZ or Tonga or whoever. And surely the correct, and simplest response, which usually always happened, was to stand firmly in a line and stare it out. It seems nowadays people have got it into their heads to start bleating about it. On the other hand, I've never agreed with this "Respect the kicker" either. You're a professional sportsman, playing in a cauldron, you should have to take the pressure. It seems the SH largely agrees.

Did anyone else notice that the Irish faced the haka in two big circles, ie, a pair of balls?

The haka is a challenge and a greeting mixed together. It's hard to translate. But I wish the spirit in which it's done was better understood by the NH nations.

And... Maori are quite happy for non-Maori to be in a haka if the setting is appropriate. In fact, they encourage it. Just as long as it's done with due effort. No different to singing a natural anthem.

Apparently it was an 8, a tribute to someone.

It's a tribute to former Ireland and Munster No 8 player and Munster's then Head Coach, Anthony Foley, who died in his sleep in Paris in October 2016 ahead of Munster's clash with Racing 92.
The Irish team first formed the number eight stance in tribute to him in November 2016 before they met the All Blacks in Chicago in their first test match since Anthony Foley had died.

Really glad the Boks won! Tight match as always, my nerves! Faf was excellent, PSTD, Eben, Pollard, Kolisi... oh I felt sorry for Kolbe, thank god they won!

Really disappointed to see the ignorant and racist comments on the thread regarding NZ and the haka they do. You're no different to Tom Curry and RFU with taking offence to a different language. If you do not have knowledge about something cultural, then its best not to comment,. Haka is done for all kinds of reasons and the other polynesian teams do their version, in Aussie where we have relatives they have welcome to country now too. Haka is not simply done in acts of war, the are used as welcomes, at funerals, various celebrations. Have a google! Haka was performed at international rugby matches before anthems were. We colonised them but now we think they should chose between their cultures on the world stage? Disgraceful comments.
To the OP @KnickerlessParsons your comments about Fijians doing it are extremely offensive. I cannot believe you wrote that and that nobody else has pulled you up on it. It is racist. Most of the time you're talking about people who have been born and raised there. Yes there are players who migrate for rugby, but that exists in very team almost and its just crap of you to take a pop at Fijian players who you think have done that. Can you even name them? IS it the same for all the players singing anthems for countries they have barely lived in?

I feel sorry for poor Barnsey. Apparently he's retiring because he can't take the vitriol against him and his family any longer. Death threats too apparently. Did you see the comments from his wife about the atmosphere at the final
All this ref abuse/blaming has to stop - though I don't know how.

I didn't know about that. Not a fan of Barnes really, but abuse of referees is disgraceful in any sport.

Are you going to acknowledge what I wrote to you at all? perhaps apologise for your offensive words? The vitriol against Barnes is horrible and completely unacceptable. So are your words here about another country's culture, and about Fijian New Zealanders.

Unfortunately there will soon be no refs