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Gaining an edge on your opponent is something every sports person strives to do. Most competition is started way before anything actually gets underway. The “psychological war” commences in press conferences, training sessions and other media formats. Some sports do it differently to others, most combat sports make time for a stare down and a fair share of trash-talking each other, in other sports it can go the other way and athletes will big themselves or their team up in order to make them believe from the outset that they will win.
Potentially, the most recognised of all pregame psychological tactics was on display again last Saturday as the New Zealand rugby team performed their ancient Maori war dance – the Haka.
This time it did not work, however, as the World Cup semi-final went the way of England after a terrific performance. England won 19-7 but the score line simply does not do the performance justice. The All Blacks hadn’t been beaten for 12 years in the World Cup and England had only beaten New Zealand once in their previous 16 meetings.
I saw an article that England had quite literally turned over a new leaf, an ode to the fact England’s game was based around excellent turnovers, 16 to 5 in their favour over the course of the game. However, there was a difference within the players’ right from the very outset. Most teams receive the Haka; arms linked standing in a flat line. England created a ‘V’ formation, their captain Owen Farrell said it was pre-planned to show the All Blacks they wouldn’t get everything their own way. In truth, it simply epitomised the difference in mentality of England on this occasion. It is not the first time that a team has challenged the Haka in their own way? However, does rugby give New Zealand an unfair advantage by allowing it to happen in the first place and should all teams have their own retort?
Of course, England is not the first team to challenge the Haka and not the first team to ever get the better of the All Blacks. Last time, they got beat in a World Cup, France famously stood right in front of the Haka staring them down whilst donning red, white and blue shirts. It was their own display of strength and unity.
In fact, the V formation has been used against the Haka a few times. In a game in 1989, the Irish charged the Haka in a V formation and in the 2011 World Cup final, France again challenged the war dance with their own “flying V” formation. There have been some interesting efforts outside of this too. In 2008, Warren Gatland, the New Zealand born then Wales coach, alerted his players that the Haka only actually ends when the opposition players turn away. The challenge to the Haka was to just stand there, for those of you who haven’t seen how that played out, I recommend it. It goes from awkward to intense very quickly; there aren’t many YouTube videos that you can feel an atmosphere from.
The World Rugby Union was challenged on their decision to allow the Haka after complaints that it made not only the opposition but the fans in the stadium uncomfortable. The WRU said that displays of culture were part of the game. I’m not sure how much traditional Maori runs through the New Zealand team but it’s been said that the Haka has always been and will always be part of Rugby Union.
Personally, I have no problem with teams trying to gain an advantage in order to win and, in this instance, it is a spectacle that is worth witnessing, a real piece of theatre that single-handedly attracts an audience. I certainly don’t subscribe to the idea that it should be stopped. I do think however that Rugby should be more lenient on ways to challenge the Haka as England did last weekend.
Overall, the perceived psychological advantage could be seen as going both ways. Whilst many may find the dance intimidating, it is also motivational. If I was going to battle with these giant men all miming that they may be about to take my head off, I’d probably head home, stick my feet up and nervously check my shoulder every now and again. For guys of roughly equal size, strength and ability surely it is a motivator. You want to beat the guy who is dancing in front of you to show you are the better man. To get to that level, you can’t shy away from any opponent.
My issue comes from a physical standpoint. Athletes warm up prior to a game in order to activate their muscles and prepare for the game, by enforcing the standard way to receive the Haka, it allows New Zealand players to flex, keep muscles warm and prepare for “battle” as the opposition has to stand still and begin to essentially cool down.
The Haka is a tradition I would hate to see die. Maybe the opposition challenging could also become a tradition. Take away the physical advantage and increase the spectacle, what’s not to enjoy?
