Springboks won’t do ‘funny tricks’ during All Blacks Haka as Rassie Erasmus issues plea to fans

Rassie Erasmus has called on Springboks fans to respect the All Blacks’ Haka ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series opener at Ellis Park.

Over the years, several teams have come up with unique responses to New Zealand’s Haka for crunch matches, with England infamously forming an arrowhead before the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final.

Back in 1989, the Ireland squad walked up together and into the faces of the All Blacks’ players and in 2016, they formed a figure eight in memory of the late Anthony Foley.

France also advanced right up to the New Zealanders during World Cup meetings while Wallabies legend David Campese ignored the cultural challenge back in 1991 and continued his warm-up instead.

Most recently, ex-All Black centre Ma’a Nonu responded to the haka with one of his own during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash between the Sharks and New Zealand, much like Doug Howlett did when he represented Munster against his home country.

Rassie Erasmus’ plea to Springboks’ fans during the All Blacks’ Haka

Ahead of the inaugural RGR Test match between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park, Erasmus has confirmed that South Africa haven’t planned any kind of response to the cultural challenge and has urged those attending the match to do the same.

“It’s a very emotional thing to have the privilege to face the haka,” the Springboks boss remarked when asked about how much respect the men in Green and Gold have for their opponents on Saturday.

Whilst the Bok boss added that there was always a respect for the haka, it wasn’t until ex-All Blacks fly-half Tony Brown joined the team’s coaching staff that they really appreciated it.

“We have always respected the haka, but since Tony has told us what it means, we just admire it a little bit more, and you won’t see us doing funny tricks when they do the haka,” he confirmed.

“We have always had this weird opinion about the haka as an advantage and ask why the All Blacks can do it, and since Tony has described it to us, it’s actually an honour for us to face it, and since that, we want to, and I would want to stand there still because I miss it, and the players are looking forward to it.”

The advantage

Many believe that the All Blacks get an edge from performing the haka before a Test match, and while Erasmus said they used to devise plans on how to mitigate it, they no longer do so.

“In the past, we always thought about how we were going to cancel this, but since Tony has explained to us what it is, it’s not what it does to us; it’s what it does to them. You can’t nullify what the haka does for them,” he explained before pleading with the public to remain silent on Saturday to fully embrace the experience.

“Please, we would like the crowd to hear it. It’s really special facing it. I faced it as a player, and if the crowd really hears it and they see the guys’ faces, after that we can erupt; South Africa go crazy. If we really experience it, it’s something very powerful, and it’s something that you’re proud to be there for. You can’t take away what they get from the haka.

“Since Tony explained it to us, it doesn’t scare us; we enjoy it. Then it’s who’s kicking off; what’s my role at the kickoff? So that’s how we handle that.”

Respect for New Zealand and nerves for Saturday

The respect extends beyond the haka, with Erasmus stating that the Springboks used New Zealand as the benchmark when they were going through a dip and were ranked sixth in the world.

He added that he is nervous for the showdown in Johannesburg.

“I’m always very mindful that when we were number six in the world, and the talk was about the All Blacks, England and Ireland, who were number one, two and three in the world – it wasn’t a nice feeling when we were six in the world that people didn’t even talk about us,” he said.

“Obviously, you have to work your way back into contention, but this is one of the most enjoyable and nerve-wracking matches. I’m sitting here nervous – I’m not going to lie.

“I’m not going to pretend I’m not nervous; the team is nervous, and the supporters are nervous, but I’m pretty sure it’s the same on the other side, too. We can look calm, speak in a way that it looks like we’re 100% in control, but it is massive.”

He added: “If it isn’t the greatest rivalry, hell, it’s by a small margin. It’s a very emotional, proud thing to be part of.”

-          Planet Rugby