Right Or Wrong? France Fined For Advancing On Haka

[Philtaz]

http://uk.eurosport.y...d-advancing-haka.html

Poor decision by the IRB. Why should the AB's be given carte blanche when they perform the Haka? They are allowed to use it as an intimidatory factor as much as laying down a challenge, so why should a team be fined when they respond accordingly, front up and accept the challenge?

If that's how it's going to be, maybe the AB's should be stopped from performing it, especially at away games.

[Sqad]

Right and wrong.

The Haka is a piece of traditional showpiece,a welcome and has been performed as a greeting to the Queen on her visits to the Southern Hemisphere on many occasions.
In fact the haka was the best part of the final.

Opposing teams should respect the haka, not try to equal it but just to accept the greeting from the opposing team.

France should have been censured, but not fined.

[Philtaz]

IMHO they do respect it by accepting the challenge laid down.

The Tongans perform the Sipi Tau as their response (as do other South Sea Island teams), why can't the French be allowed to do as others have in the past?



Even the great 'Buck' Shelford called the Irish response "great".

If anything the French response was far less confrontational.

[Philtaz]

Tried to put this one oin the previous post too but looks like the site won't allow two at a time!

[Philtaz]

Oin? One even.....!

[jno]

there was some sort of protocol about how near opposing teams could approach during the haka, and the French breached it. I suppose it's thought to lessen the value of the performance. The ABs think the fine was a mistake

http://www.guardian.c...fine-new-zealand-haka

[DTCwordfan]

ridiculous and the IRB do themselves no credit, in fact they are plonkers.

[Noraq]

how times have changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g3QbH_i2VU&feature=related