Wallaby coach John Connolly on Thursday condemned New Zealand’s controversial ”throat-slitting” haka as damaging for rugby.
Criticism of their pre-match ritual, which in the Kapa O Pango haka climaxes with an apparent throat-slitting gesture, put the All Blacks on the defensive ahead of Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup match against Australia.
Connolly said while he had no problem with the traditional Ka Mate haka, he had issues with the Kapa O Pango, introduced by the All Blacks into their pre-match routine last August.
”As custodians of the game, we are continually talking about setting an example to young players and throat-slitting probably doesn’t send a good message,” Connolly told reporters on Thursday.
”Young sportsmen these days copy the Wallabies, they copy the All Blacks and I’d hate to think it led to a tragic consequence down the road.”
Connolly said elite rugby players are role models and should set a good example.
”As a message that it sends that you’re murdering someone — I’m not sure if that’s a great message.
”I’d be surprised if it continued, but for that reason.”
New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith was assailed by questions of the suitability of the new haka at the start of a briefing with reporters on Thursday.
”I’m not qualified to explain it, I’m a footy coach,” Smith said initially.
Asked if it could be seen as offensive, Smith retorted: ”Offensive to whom?
”It’s not actually a throat-cutting gesture,” he said, although he admitted it could be perceived by some that way.
”It’s been reviewed pretty thoroughly by the [New Zealand rugby] board from outside the team and everyone has been comfortable with it at this stage,” he said.
Asked if the gesture could be seen as inciting other parts of society as well as other parts of the game, Smith said: ”It’s an over-reaction. It’s a sporting contest.
”Can someone being rucked on the field legitimately incite violence outside of the game, can a strong tackle incite violence outside the game … it’s a sporting contest and you need to put it into context.”
All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger has also denied the new haka is offensive.
He said that when the All Blacks drew their hands across their throats and grimaced in the traditional Maori war dance they were actually making an ancient gesture to transfer energy into their bodies.
”It’s pretty knackering doing the haka,” he said. ”At the end of it you’re pretty knackered and that is sort of revitalising the soul and the system before you get into the game.”
Mauger said the All Blacks decided to use a new version of the haka last year because they were concerned the old version had become too commercialised. — AFP
