|
All Black haka becomes a joke
16/01/2001 09:07 - (SA)
Beeld
Cape Town - Former Springbok wing and manager Jannie Engelbrecht agrees with New Zealand rugby legend Colin Meads that the traditional ?ka?performed by the All Blacks is currently a joke.
It has been performed so often at every possible occasion that the once terrifying and intimidating dance has lost its impact.
"In 1965 when we were touring in New Zealand I was introduced to the Maori pre-match war dance and again later when the All Blacks toured South Africa.
"One should see it in perspective. We did not often play against them and TV or film coverage was not very good. The haka had a positive as well as a negative aspect.
"Their attempts at terrifying and intimidating their opponents made you more determined to beat them. I agree, that as a result of wide coverage it appears watered down," Engelbrecht said.
Mannetjies Roux also a legendary former Springbok centre who played in eight Tests (four locally and four on tour) against the All Blacks said had no particular fondness for the haka back then.
"Unlike at the present moment when a side is required to face them, back then we stood to the side of the pitch and had our own team talk.
"We didn't take too much notice of it and merely regarded it as a ?r cry'. I was probably too young to be scared," said Roux, who is currently a sheep farmer and bottles mineral water on his Karoo farm near Victoria West.
Meads added that the All Black currently appear to concentrate more on the haka than on the game with a different version every week in which players are putting so much effort that they seem to have gone overboard.
"It still remains an important All Black tradition, however it needs to be toned down," he maintains.
Former Springbok eighthman, captain and later team manager Morne du Plessis said seen from a New Zealand angle he commiserated with Meads' opinion and injured pride.
"Currently it is an expected spectacle which contributes to the Test atmosphere, however in good spirits. It is fun, but remains a challenge to the opponents.
"When I was playing we experienced it as ?rmidable' however the emphasis had been on playing rugby and winning," he said. - Beeld
|
Rugby
