Haka hoo-ha gets All Blacks hot under collar

Tana Umaga

CARDIFF - All Blacks rugby captain Tana Umaga says no one will tell them when to perform the haka for the rest of the tour after a tense stand-off with Welsh officials in the past week.

The All Blacks performed their famed Ka Mate haka in between the New Zealand and Welsh national anthems today, a change from its traditional spot as the final act before kickoff for the past century.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand confirmed he told Wales Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett the All Blacks would refuse to perform the haka if it was shifted from its regular spot.

But the team relented as a tribute to the 1905 Originals as today's match, won 41-3 by the All Blacks, celebrated 100 years of rugby rivalry between the two nations.

"We wanted to respect that, they asked us and after some long deliberations we decided to do it," Umaga said.

"There's a lot of history behind it, but it won't happen again, unless there's 100 year history with us and another country that wants to do it."

In 1905 the Originals performed the haka, to which their opponents responded by singing the Welsh national anthem, Land of My Fathers.

The crowd then joined in, thereby beginning the tradition of national anthems before rugby matches.

Shand said he and current selector and All Blacks legend Sir Brian Lochore met Moffett to discuss their concerns last week.

"I suggested we needed to talk face to face and potentially we considered not doing the haka because it meant so much to us.

"This team has taken real ownership of the haka -- they see themselves as the guardians of it. It's something hugely important to New Zealand culture and they wanted to take the high ground.

"It was precedent setting and something that hadn't been done for 100 years. It was a big decision on this special occasion."

Shand said the team would "put our foot down" if officials from Ireland, England or Scotland tried to shift the haka from its regular spot in the coming weeks.

Wales captain Gareth Thomas admitted he was oblivious to the fuss but said he held the pre-match challenge in high regard.

"I love facing the haka. It pumps up the New Zealand players but if anything it pumps up the opposition players even more," Thomas said.

"I'm proud to say I've faced the haka in my career."

- NZPA