This is a question that has gone through almost all the heads of All Blacks opponents for decades and decades: should the haka be answered, and if so how? Because if New Zealand invariably completes its pre-match with its impressive ceremony, their opponents are in fact forced to find a way to kill time in the face of the Maori show of force. And Friday evening, shortly before 9:15 p.m. and the kick-off of the summit and the Rugby World Cup, the Blues will in turn be plunged into this situation.
Should we also feel obliged to respond to the haka? The space of two World Cups, French rugby answered in the affirmative, as if the absence of a visible reaction was synonymous with passivity and the first symbolic defeat against the New Zealanders. So we had this 2007 quarter-final, and a blue-white-red line of players made up with T-shirts prepared for the occasion. Four years later, the XV of France form the V of victory before playing their final on opposing soil in Auckland.
In 2015, the tricolors had this time not elaborated anything in particular before sinking in the quarter against the future world champions. And in 2023? Officially for the time being, no brilliant idea in the corridors of the Renaissance hotel in Rueil-Malmaison. “We did not prepare the haka, we rather prepared the match”, underlines the third row François Cros. “We don’t have a specific strategy, we are focused on what will happen next, continues winger Gabin Villière. With most guys, we experienced it two years ago. »
In November 2021, before this largely won test match (40-25), the Blues were content to regroup online, arm in arm, against the All Blacks. Nothing too spectacular, just enough to show their solidarity before 80 minutes of an intense duel. What to imagine that this September 8, 2023 will be in the same line? Yes, but no one wants to close the door to a collective initiative.
“The French will respect the haka”
“We have nothing planned … for this moment”, slips Villière. “I’m not saying that by Friday something won’t be decided. It is a strong symbol, the haka of the Blacks, ”adds Cros. A slight suspense, which absolutely does not upset New Zealanders.
“We are at peace with that, slips the coach of the All Blacks, Ian Foster. It’s good that our adversaries respond, as they wish, to the haka. It is also for the public. »
“The haka is part of our heritage, of who we are and how we connect to each other and to our past,” continues the boss of the triple world champions. One thing I know is that the French will respect the haka because they have always respected it. The fact that they may react in different ways is not considered disrespectful. So, riposte to the haka or not? Response shortly before 9:15 p.m. Friday evening.
