RugbyRebels

I understand some don’t like it but I feel like seeing the Haka would be incredible.

Swing low is obviously better than the anthem, but singing it over the Haka feels kind of lame. It’s not like the NZ crowd can counter it by being more silent, or they are interrupting our anthem.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Nov 17, 2025 8:54 am I understand some don’t like it but I feel like seeing the Haka would be incredible.

Swing low is obviously better than the anthem, but singing it over the Haka feels kind of lame. It’s not like the NZ crowd can counter it by being more silent, or they are interrupting our anthem.

Not sure how I feel about any of it. I suppose the NZ anthem WAS treated respectfully. Does anyone outside NZ view the haka as of anthem status? It seems to me to be just another hangover from amateur traditions. Presumably they need permission to do it in the build-up to every match because the teams must appear on the pitch several minutes earlier to allow for it.

To get back to the match...

What was impressive, for me, was the way in which we reacted to bad luck (and poor mistakes). We didn't fold like England of yesteryear, but stepped up. Ford has a lot to do with this, imo, but it's a whole squad thing, and I think we need to give Slowly Building credit for the culture he has built.

Also, I was delighted with Itoje's captaincy. He is such a mature player, he can talk with the ref cleanly, he demands respect, and he gets responses from his own players. Plus he's just a superb rugby player.

We had some issues defending the wider channels sometimes (well, often), but our scramble was good enough to overcome it. I felt that Roebuck in particular was scared of showing the outside, and then got done on the inside several times. Would the same happen to Arundell or someone else with out and out pace?

Some greater accuracy and we'd have absolutely thrashed NZ.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Nov 17, 2025 8:54 am I understand some don’t like it but I feel like seeing the Haka would be incredible.

Swing low is obviously better than the anthem, but singing it over the Haka feels kind of lame. It’s not like the NZ crowd can counter it by being more silent, or they are interrupting our anthem.

The Haka isn't their anthem though is it? England don't do an 'extra' challenge after the anthems so why would the NZ crowd need to respond?
Yes watching the Haka is a great experience, except nowadays it's virtually every week rather than a couple of times a year.