Former All Black Says New Zealand’s Haka Against Ireland Was ‘Disrespectful’
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Former All Black Craig Dowd has slammed the All Black’s use of the Kapa O Pango haka against Ireland.
The game marked the first time Ireland had played a test match following the tragic passing of Anthony Foley.
Ireland lined up in a figure of eight as they faced New Zealand, but Down has said that the wrong choice of Haka was used.
“I have to say I watched the haka and cringed,” wrote Dowd in a column for ESPN.
“Someone didn’t do their homework in the All Blacks camp.
“Knowing a little bit about the Irish mentality and having had a 64-Test cap veteran and ex-Munster coach Anthony Foley die recently, with all the players wearing black armbands and having a moment’s silence for him before the game, and knowing what that meant to the Irish team and the public, I thought pulling out the Kapa O Pango haka was disrespectful.
“I’ve been to funerals and you do the Ka Mate haka to honour a warrior and it is different to doing the battle cry, or war cry, of Kapa O Pango which is a more aggressive challenge.
“I thought, ‘you guys haven’t done your research here, you haven’t actually thought through the process’.”
Ireland went on to the in the game 40-29, ending a 111 year wait for victory over the All Blacks. Is Dowd right? Should the All Blacks have done their research given the occasion?
