Rugby Unions worldwide should ban the haka.
This would be a sure-fire method of stopping all the nonsense that continues to surround this controversial pre-test entertainment factor.
If the haka is really offensive to some Unions, then banning it
is one option open to them.
Each international union has granted the All Blacks permission to
perform the traditional challenge. It is a privilege, not a right,
for the All Blacks to do it on their opponent's home ground. But if
permission were to be denied, then there would be no haka and,
presumably, an end to controversy.
But we all know that will not happen.
The haka is a vital part of the marketing of test matches, and each Union fully realises its importance. To ban it would bring the wrath of thousands of rugby fans down upon that particular administration, not to mention the accusations of being culturally insensitive.
But I would love one of the Unions to tell us they do not want the haka. Just one of them to be brave enough to say "enough is enough, we do not feel the haka is relevant to our ground".
It is pure entertainment. It gets people talking and arguing. The haka prompts comment from coaches and debate from journalists and critics.
That it appears to give the All Blacks an unfair advantage seems irrelevant. They do it, their adrenalin reaches a peak and they are raring to go into the fray. Well that is the theory. As we have seen, quite often the All Blacks begin tests in rather a flat way after giving their all in the haka.
I was thrilled and totally pumped after the haka at The Westpac Stadium last weekend, but then quickly brought back to earth with that try by the Springboks. That was a haka of "no advantage" to the All Blacks.
And as New Zealanders, we should not be concerned with the reaction of opposing teams to the haka. We are sometimes far too sensitive and precious.
How teams decide to respond to the challenge is entirely up to them. We cannot (as some talkback callers have been suggesting) decry the Australians for "not respecting" the haka. They have no requirement to stand still and grim-faced - they can do what they like, and if rushing around hitting tackle bags immediately after the haka is their response, let them do it.
The All Blacks were on Australia's ground. The Australians permitted the All Blacks to perform their haka. The Wallabies accepted it, then tried to deflate the All Blacks by wasting time.
Good on them.
What the Springboks do when they next face the haka will be interesting. Or will they say "enough is enough"?.
