Joe Marler’s recent comments on the haka have landed him in hot water. But this is not the first time the England camp have been stung by a response to New Zealand’s notorious pre-match rugby ritual.
The traditional Maori dance involves chanting, stomping and intimidating facial expressions as a display of solidarity and strength. The stadium and the opposition generally fall silent during the performance to show respect.
It’s an enduring symbol of international rugby and enough to make hairs stand on end. But England prop Marler is not as taken with it as others.
The 34-year-old sparked an angry response earlier this week by slating the haka on X. “The haka needs binning,” he wrote ahead of England’s hotly-anticipated clash with New Zealand on Saturday. “It’s ridiculous.”
Marler deactivated his account before returning with the follow-up statement: “Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses [finishing emoji]. Big Love x.”
In recent years, international teams have come up with innovative ways to play mind games of their own during New Zealand’s haka. One such attempt landed England with a £2,000 fine in 2019.
Instead of standing in a straight line, England’s players arranged themselves in a V formation as the Kiwis advanced towards them before their Rugby World Cup semi-final. Several players on the extremes were stood in New Zealand’s half of the pitch during the haka, which goes against World Rugby rules, and referee Nigel Owens had to usher them back.
“We didn’t just want to stand in a flat line and let them come at us,” said captain Owen Farrell after the game, which England won 19-7.
Fellow England star Manu Tuilagi added that the V formation was actually thought up by head coach Eddie Jones, the 64-year-old Australian who was still in charge at the time. “Everyone wanted to show that we were ready and together,” Tuilagi said. “It was something different that I think Eddie suggested.”
Despite England being slapped with a fine, New Zealand’s then-head coach Steve Hansen praised their attempt to throw the Kiwis off.
“If you understand the haka then it requires a response,” he explained. “It’s a challenge to you personally and it requires you to have a response. I thought it was brilliant – quite imaginative too.”
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