Kamate! Kamate!

I’m awarding myself a momentary reprieve from my week of Caledonian posting in honour of Saint Andrew. And I’m doing so to let you know how disgusted and angry I am with the Welsh Rugby Union.

If commentators are to be believed, the WRU told the All Blacks they could not perform the Haka before their match with Wales yesterday. And I want to know why.

The Haka is the Maori war-dance shown to adversaries before a fight; it has the same chivalrous quality as throwing a gauntlet. It announces that those present on the field of battle are champions of a country, and asks the opponents to send their champions. It is a promise to behave honourably in combat; it is not an insult.

Several years ago the All Blacks, on their regular British tour, took up on the half way line at Twickenham to show the Haka to the England team. The English captain took his fifteen to the far end of the park, where they turned their backs on the challenge from the Maori warriors. Such was the offence given by this that, having trounced the English, most of the All Blacks refused to shake hands on the way off the field, and did not take part in the post-match festivities.

A fortnight later the All Blacks came to Murrayfield. They took up position on the half way line, and found themselves eye-to-eye, one man each, with a tall, unsmiling Scots champion ready for battle. And as they joyfully chanted "Kamate! Kamate!" [trans. This is war! This is war!] they knew they were meeting with men of honour and gallantry. Then, of course, they trounced us too.

My very good friend Dr Bruce Dalbrack has argued most eloquently on his website for an end to the Haka on the grounds that it gives an unfair psychological advantage; I think the Scottish standoff disproves this. The rugby ‘tradition’ that provides the largest advantage is the dreadful pre-match song adopted by the Irish side; coming after both countries national anthems, it can leave the visitors standing stock-still on the receiving line for five minutes, slowly seizing up.

I think the Welsh Rugby Union havecome to an ill-considered decision, which threatens an unpopular precedent; the All Blacks want to show the Haka, the fans want to see it, the players want to face up to it. The Haka ergo should remain; can we get on with the game now?

Andrew Mishmash