Rugby
Boks keen to honour the Haka─── MORGAN PIEK 08:59 Wed, 25 Oct 2023
“I played that game at Twickenham before the World Cup it was my first time facing the haka and it was a cool experience. We will honour it.”
The Springboks won't shy away from the Haka on Saturday when they tackle the All Blacks in Paris in the big final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks are the defending champions and will hunt for back-to-back titles for the first time, but the New Zealanders will be just as fired up after missing out on the final four years ago.
It remains be seen what challenge the All Blacks will lay down, but with it being a World Cup final, it will be different and it will be intense.
We've already seen at the World Cup that the Haka leader, Aaron Smith, holds a hoe (a carved wooden paddle) while the perform the war dance. While it's a small change, it is significant for the All Blacks.
Smith said had special meaning to them and he doens't want to give too much away.
“It was something special for our group. It aligns a little bit around our time in France, but I don’t want to give too much away about it.
“World Cups are different and we wanted to add something unique to this group for this moment in time. It just felt like it was the right time, and it was very special to carry that hoe and represent our people back home.”
The Springbok lock, Jean Kleyn, said facing the Haka is always an experience and it’s a tradition of the game they welcome and will honour.
“I think it is a fantastic tradition,” said the player who also previously represented Ireland at the Rugby World Cup.
I think it is very much a part of world rugby. It's part of the game against New Zealand, it is one of the things you have to face.
“I played that game at Twickenham before the World Cup it was my first time facing the haka and it was a cool experience. We will honour it.”
Saturday’s big final at Stade de France will kick-off at 21:00.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup final Haka
Morgan Piek OFM Sport
