England vs New Zealand

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I found the CCS timing quite strange, especially as Coles seemed to be tiring.

+1 on Baxter & Heyes. They were rock solid. Not sure what Stom was watching ()

Yeah I’m not 100% how we best use him as both an impact player and have him on hand to cover all these different positions.

Great win I guess, but can we please just focus on the important part? Pollock’s lip-licking antics were bizarre.

[twitchy]

Yeah I found the CCS timing quite strange, especially as Coles seemed to be tiring.

+1 on Baxter & Heyes. They were rock solid. Not sure what Stom was watching ()

Yeah I’m not 100% how we best use him as both an impact player and have him on hand to cover all these different positions.

Great win I guess, but can we please just focus on the important part? Pollock’s lip-licking antics were bizarre.

e- whoa- tell if that is way too big and I edit it out.

[loudnconfident]

£2000 fine for England's response to the haka
https://www.ruck.co.uk/england-fined-by ... acks-haka/

Pretty sure it's not England who are made to look bad here

I believe that's a rehashed piece from the world cup game.

Yes, and England were fined for crossing the halfway line in their "response to the Haka". They didnt this time.

Campese's famous attitude - just practicing passing - is my favourite treatment.

[Which Tyler]

£2000 fine for England's response to the haka
https://www.ruck.co.uk/england-fined-by ... acks-haka/

Pretty sure it's not England who are made to look bad here

I believe that's a rehashed piece from the world cup game.

If so, then there are lots of outlets rehashing it in the last 20 hours

[Captainhaircut]

Yeah I found the CCS timing quite strange, especially as Coles seemed to be tiring.

+1 on Baxter & Heyes. They were rock solid. Not sure what Stom was watching ()

Yeah I’m not 100% how we best use him as both an impact player and have him on hand to cover all these different positions.

Great win I guess, but can we please just focus on the important part? Pollock’s lip-licking antics were bizarre.

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

[Which Tyler]

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

You not understanding something doesn't make it untrue

Is expressly for idden, and genuinely disrespectful

[Captainhaircut]

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

You not understanding something doesn't make it untrue

Is expressly for idden, and genuinely disrespectful

I can understand something and still think the rationale is bollocks mate. That’s how life works isn’t it- we don’t all agree.

As I say, it’s a rugby only thing- I don’t see them doing it in other sports so the suggestion it’s some sort of cultural requirement is nonsense. It’s been suggested to me that its rugby only because of the physical nature of rugby but then I’ve never seen Joseph Parker do it before a boxing fight…

So having confirmed with the above logic that’s there’s no cultural requirement for it, I’m yet to hear a convincing argument as to why everyone else should watch a tribal dance which means nothing to them. That’s even leaving out the throat slit stuff which while they try to pass off as meaning something else to them isn’t showing a lot of respect when you rock up in London and do it.

It’s solely a marketing gimmick now hence why the IRB literally fines anyone who doesn’t just stand there and watch like a good little boy.

[morepork]

Yeah I found the CCS timing quite strange, especially as Coles seemed to be tiring.

+1 on Baxter & Heyes. They were rock solid. Not sure what Stom was watching ()

Yeah I’m not 100% how we best use him as both an impact player and have him on hand to cover all these different positions.

Great win I guess, but can we please just focus on the important part? Pollock’s lip-licking antics were bizarre.

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

Do you think the same of the Siva Tau, Cibi, or sipi tau? The haka is way bigger than rugby in NZ, and a lot more varied than the overly stylised AB versions. Kapa haka is massive in schools and has been instrumental in bringing the language back into every day life.


But enough of that. Very good win by England yesterday. We were dog shit, but England was very good. Scott Robertson is looking more and more like a lapsing meth addict as this wears on.

[twitchy]

Yeah I’m not 100% how we best use him as both an impact player and have him on hand to cover all these different positions.

Great win I guess, but can we please just focus on the important part? Pollock’s lip-licking antics were bizarre.

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

Scott Robertson is looking more and more like a lapsing meth addict as this wears on.

lol I was racking my brain thinking of who he reminded me of yesterday? Sami Hyypia, the liverpool defender from 20 years ago?

[Captainhaircut]

Yeah I’m not 100% how we best use him as both an impact player and have him on hand to cover all these different positions.

Great win I guess, but can we please just focus on the important part? Pollock’s lip-licking antics were bizarre.

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

Do you think the same of the Siva Tau, Cibi, or sipi tau? The haka is way bigger than rugby in NZ, and a lot more varied than the overly stylised AB versions. Kapa haka is massive in schools and has been instrumental in bringing the language back into every day life.

Just to close on this from me since you asked me a question.

Yes 100%, i think the same for the other variations. To be clear on my point:

- If it is some sort of cultural challenge pre contest, it should be done in all sports. Since it isn’t, I believe that debate is nonsense.
- Based on the above, I conclude that it’s just a bullshit marketing gimmick. The fact players are forced by threat of penalty to stand there and watch isn’t acceptable to me nor do I think it’s acceptable for 15 men to do a throat slit gesture at other men.
- Delighted that the haka is way bigger than rugby in NZ. Confirms that’s it doesn’t really matter if they stop doing it in rugby then and they can maintain the cultural elements they want.

[Puja]

The only bizarre thing is that the haka still takes place. I’m told it’s an important part of NZ culture but I don’t see them doing it before they enter a cricket field or football pitch.

As per post above, everyone should just go full Campese and do some team catching practice in the backfield.

Do you think the same of the Siva Tau, Cibi, or sipi tau? The haka is way bigger than rugby in NZ, and a lot more varied than the overly stylised AB versions. Kapa haka is massive in schools and has been instrumental in bringing the language back into every day life.

Just to close on this from me since you asked me a question.

Yes 100%, i think the same for the other variations. To be clear on my point:

- If it is some sort of cultural challenge pre contest, it should be done in all sports. Since it isn’t, I believe that debate is nonsense.
- Based on the above, I conclude that it’s just a bullshit marketing gimmick. The fact players are forced by threat of penalty to stand there and watch isn’t acceptable to me nor do I think it’s acceptable for 15 men to do a throat slit gesture at other men.
- Delighted that the haka is way bigger than rugby in NZ. Confirms that’s it doesn’t really matter if they stop doing it in rugby then and they can maintain the cultural elements they want.

What is your opinion on national anthems?

Puja

[Puja]

Scott Robertson is looking more and more like a lapsing meth addict as this wears on.

lol I was racking my brain thinking of who he reminded me of yesterday? Sami Hyypia, the liverpool defender from 20 years ago?

You know what? I actually see that.

Morepork - do you think his position is under threat? I know you don't think that losing to England is a cultural shame and disaster showing the collapse of NZ rugby, but I know that kind of measured approach isn't always shared by your countrymen.

Puja

[Captainhaircut]

What is your opinion on national anthems?

Puja

Utter bollocks. Half of them are military songs, the songs Ireland and Scotland sing aren’t even national anthems. It’s a game of sport lads, let’s crack on.

Except Italy’s. Love that tune (although believe that’s a military song too!).

[Oakboy]

Are the RFU going to be fined because the English crowd chose to sing Swing Low during the Haka? Was it a provocation of the provocation? Was it disrepectful or was it funny?

Or did the crowd just feel that they are fed up with NZ getting an unfair implied advantage and try to cancel it out?

[morepork]

Scott Robertson is looking more and more like a lapsing meth addict as this wears on.

lol I was racking my brain thinking of who he reminded me of yesterday? Sami Hyypia, the liverpool defender from 20 years ago?

You know what? I actually see that.

Morepork - do you think his position is under threat? I know you don't think that losing to England is a cultural shame and disaster showing the collapse of NZ rugby, but I know that kind of measured approach isn't always shared by your countrymen.

Puja

Definitely. Even the relatively crap teams of the late 90's fought like bastards right up to the end of the game. Seeing our halfbacks kick away possession when behind with 10 or less to go means something is fundamentally wrong, and we seem to just switch off after about 45 minutes instead of going full beserker whist capable of executing basic skills at beserker pace. It's not just England, it's Argentina and the hammering by the Bokke. I don't mind losing, by by fuck, at least go down swinging.

[Puja]

What is your opinion on national anthems?

Puja

Utter bollocks. Half of them are military songs, the songs Ireland and Scotland sing aren’t even national anthems. It’s a game of sport lads, let’s crack on.

Except Italy’s. Love that tune (although believe that’s a military song too!).

Welp, fair enough, at least you're internally consistent.

Puja

[oldbackrow]

Are the RFU going to be fined because the English crowd chose to sing Swing Low during the Haka? Was it a provocation of the provocation? Was it disrepectful or was it funny?

Or did the crowd just feel that they are fed up with NZ getting an unfair implied advantage and try to cancel it out?

Having spent some time in NZ last year with players at Marist St Michaels and Whakarewarewa rugby clubs the general consensus was that the way England reacted in 2019 (and yesterday) along with the fans singing isnt disrespectful and a perfectly acceptable way to accept the challenge being laid down.

[FKAS]

What is your opinion on national anthems?

Puja

Utter bollocks. Half of them are military songs, the songs Ireland and Scotland sing aren’t even national anthems. It’s a game of sport lads, let’s crack on.

Except Italy’s. Love that tune (although believe that’s a military song too!).

Chorus:
Let us unite in a cohort, we are ready to die.
We are ready to die, Italy has called.
Let us unite in a cohort,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called!

All national anthems are jingoism. It's just a warm up for the action.

[morepork]

Are the RFU going to be fined because the English crowd chose to sing Swing Low during the Haka? Was it a provocation of the provocation? Was it disrepectful or was it funny?

Or did the crowd just feel that they are fed up with NZ getting an unfair implied advantage and try to cancel it out?

Having spent some time in NZ last year with players at Marist St Michaels and Whakarewarewa rugby clubs the general consensus was that the way England reacted in 2019 (and yesterday) along with the fans singing isnt disrespectful and a perfectly acceptable way to accept the challenge being laid down.

That is perfectly true. You want a heated response to a haka, then watch some of the face offs between the Kiwis and Samoans and Tongans in league, or the Maori league team Vs the Australian Indigenous all stars. Some of the junior teams throw down from time to time but always hugs and smiles afterwards.
The licking of the licks thing was a weak attempt to mock the pukana, but it's not the end of the world. Oh, and droning out the slave song to drown out a Polynesian cultural performance is a delicious throwback to colonialism, but I'm OK with it. Just wish we'd fucking won.

[morepork]

If we are really getting into it, how about the Soviet anthem with full military choir. That stirring opus would go down so well.

[Puja]

What is your opinion on national anthems?

Puja

Utter bollocks. Half of them are military songs, the songs Ireland and Scotland sing aren’t even national anthems. It’s a game of sport lads, let’s crack on.

Except Italy’s. Love that tune (although believe that’s a military song too!).

Chorus:
Let us unite in a cohort, we are ready to die.
We are ready to die, Italy has called.
Let us unite in a cohort,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called!

All national anthems are jingoism. It's just a warm up for the action.

I actually really like Advance Australia Fair. Nice upbeat wholesome song about how much they really fucking love being Australian. That's what a perfect anthem should be, to my mind.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

I actually really like Advance Australia Fair. Nice upbeat wholesome song about how much they really fucking love being Australian. That's what a perfect anthem should be, to my mind.

Puja

And everyone drinks on a "girt"!

[twitchy]

Re the haka. I found this reply from reddit interesting and puts it in perspective:

"No kiwis will be upset at the boys response on the field but will definitely feel some way about singing over the Haka and trying to drown it out, the New Zealand Anthem was around form the 1870s but up until 1970 God Save the King was our official anthem, the Haka was first done by the 1888-89 “New Zealand Natives” who went on to become the Māori All Black, they did this because the Teams and Crowds would sing God Save the King then the Match would start, The Haka was first done as a response to this, The Anthem was the original Cultural display before a test Match and I think it’s pretty justified that Māori didn’t think that’s what should represent them, it’s taken a while for the Haka to get the respect it deserves from the Majority of kiwis let alone the Home nations, a lot of us see the singing/booing over the Haka the same as if we tried to drown out God Save the King when the English come tour over here, for years it was the Crown that made the call on how we were supposed to represent ourselves and the Haka was their way of taking back control."

[Oakboy]

I suppose the best thing about our (British) anthem is that it is short. Some years back I was at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Medal ceremonies for English golds with Land of Hope and Glory were moving - a stirring tune but identifiably English, rather than British, as far as the crowd was concerned.

[Danno]

I suppose the best thing about our (British) anthem is that it is short.

That's the only good thing about it