All Blacks new haka

New Haka gets thumbs up from Wallabies

11/07/2006

NZPA

The Wallabies might be licking their wounds after a Bledisloe Cup beating but there's no trans-Tasman angst over the All Blacks' revived haka.

Kapa O Pango haka, complete with the throat-slitting gesture at the end, was revived with menacing effect before the All Blacks' 32-12 win in Christchurch last Saturday.

Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul, born in Waikato and with Maori ancestry, was adamant the new haka should stay.

"It's great ... it's unique and something that's good for the game," Paul told reporters yesterday.

The haka made an unexpected return at Jade Stadium and its leader on Saturday, Rico Gear, said it would become a regular fixture for All Blacks tests, although still shared with the traditional Ka Mate haka.

Prompted by some "anecdotal" evidence that some New Zealanders opposed the new haka, the New Zealand Rugby Union conducted a review into its appropriateness.

It found 62 percent positive support for it, while only 37 percent of those polled wanted the throat-slitting gesture removed.

Paul admitted there was far more to worry about than the final gesture in the haka.

"I'm more scared of (All Blacks flanker) Jerry Collins' forearm than I am of that."

Paul said he discussed the haka with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw after the match on Saturday.

"You could see how pumped up they were after it and Richie said to me: `You boys were a long time taking your tracksuits off after it'.

"I said: `Yeah funny that, you boys were a little bit too pumped for us'."

Hehehe ... funny isnt it ...