Specifically it is about the haka which New Zealand's rugby team the All Blacks perform before every rugby match. I have found a video explaining it's meaning and it's origins. I have also included the response that the welsh rugby team carried out in there match against the All Blacks.
I think that the haka is slightly controversial and I would like to hear your opinions about the subject.
Do you think that the All Blacks should be allowed to perform this intimidating dance?
Does it give them an unfair advantage?
And do you think Wales dealt with the haka effectively or not?
I hope you enjoy my first post as a moderator on this blog!
Jack Roberts
I personally think that the Haka is not at all intimidating, I mean, the Haka is done for religious and patriotic reasons not to scare anyone. I have been aware of the recent discussions whether the Haka should be allowed or not. My question is, Why shouldn't it be allowed now after all the years that they have been doing it for?
ReplyDeleteI would also like to say that they do not have at all an advantage by doing this maori dance.
On the other thand I respect the welsh team position. What Wales did has occurred sometimes in the past. For example with Australia or with Italy (this last one just ingored the dance, as if nothing was going on).
I would also like to mention how the All Blacks won that game 9-29 at Cardiff, Wales.
Gonzalo Guilarte
I'm not an apassionat of rugby and neither understand it 100%. I think rugby is a very structured and organised game believe it or not. A rugby teams needs good tactics and strategies. Talking about the haka, I've seen this spectacular dance more than once and I never get bored when I see it again. My opinion about the question of prohibiting the performance is very clear. I love this dance and it is a classic in rugby, you can't prohibit this because it is one of the symbols of rugby. I think that the opponents try to avoid the nerves and fear but they can't so in my bast opinion i could say the All Blacks play with a liitle advantage in every match.
ReplyDeleteFinally I can't comment much about Wales reaction because I think I haven't understood their strategy.
Enric Bertran:
ReplyDeleteI love rugby sport, either sometimes I don't understand it very well, I think that this is a sport for men which only men with lots of force and aggressive spirit can participate on it. The Haka for me is a really good way to intimidate the rival and to show the power of the nation, so I agree on the permission of this dance because it shows that rugby is more than a sport is feeling the colors of your nation and broking your bones for it.
Finally I would like to add that if the rival want to intimidate they could also make a similar type of ritual.
julian,
ReplyDeleteI believe that what the Welsh team was trying to achieve was to show that they are completely unmoved by the haka and that they are neither scared nor are they intimidated by it. So in standing in front of it and not batting an eyelid they proved that you don't have to answer the haka as they are trying to make out as if they couldn't care less that they are performing the haka in front of them. the fact that they stay there after they have finished reinforces the idea that they have, supposedly, barely even seen them or taken any notice of them.
Personally, I feel that it is an integral part of the sport and it adds to the interest of the sport globally as a product which is marketed and therefore raises rugby's profile so I am all for it. also, I believe that when the other team responds it makes it even more fascinating as it becomes a psychological battle between the two teams and shows how rugby is a very complex and tactical game.
Jack Roberts