Haka is in our DNA, says All Blacks coach Scott Robertson as Joe Marler apologises
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New Zealand players performing the haka before a rugby union test match between New Zealand and Japan on Oct 26, 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – New Zealand rugby coach Scott Robertson defended his team’s pre-match haka after England prop Joe Marler stoked up the tension ahead of their Nov 2 Twickenham clash by saying it was “ridiculous and needs binning”, for which he later apologised on Oct 31.
Marler, who is not involved in the match and has left the England camp for personal reasons, posted his comments on social media on Oct 29, briefly deleted his account and then reinstated it, saying he had been trying to “stoke interest”.
Asked about the comments, Robertson said: “I know Joe. I wonder if he wishes he could have articulated himself a little bit better on that.
“The haka for us is a custom. It is part of who we are, our DNA. You can welcome somebody (with it), it is for celebrations, for joy and also for challenge, and we use it as a challenge.
“We believe it is a great tradition of rugby. It is not just about the All Blacks, it is about us as a country.”
Marler later took to social media to apologise for his earlier post.
“Hey rugby fans. Just wanted to jump on here and say sorry to any New Zealand fans I upset with my poorly articulated tweet earlier in the week,” he said.
“I meant no malice in asking for it (the haka) to be binned, just want to see the restrictions lifted to allow for a response without sanction.”
World Rugby regulations limit how close opposition teams can stand when facing the haka, and England were fined for getting too near before the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Japan, as were France before the 2011 final in New Zealand.
Asked if he felt teams should be able to respond to the challenge on the pitch, Robertson said: “Obviously, it’s a respect thing.
“The crowd enjoy it, don’t they? It is a special occasion. Some clap, some put a plane over the top. Whatever it is, there is a lot of meaning behind it and it’s got to be meaningful and respectful.”
Twickenham crowds traditionally try to drown out the haka’s war cries with a rendition of their Swing Low anthem and home captain Jamie George predicted the latest exchange would only add to a “brilliant atmosphere”.
“I guess he (Marler) has sort of prodded the bear a little bit,” he said.
When asked if England had anything up their sleeves this time, he added: “We’ll have a little chat about it, but yeah, there might be something.” REUTERS
