KEY POINTS:
Welsh Rugby Union chief Roger Lewis says he will take the All Black haka issue to rugby's ruling body.
He wants clarification from the International Rugby Board about what is and is not allowed before kickoff.
The row developed after the All Blacks refused to perform a haka on the field before yesterday's test in Cardiff, in response to the host union's change to the order of pre-match protocol.
The haka - traditionally performed just before kickoff - was moved to between the respective national anthems at last year's centenary test between the All Blacks and Wales.
>> Tell us your views
Last year's arrangement was to be a one-off, with then-captain Tana Umaga saying afterwards that the All Blacks wouldn't comply in that way for at least another 100 years.
But the Welsh this year demanded the practice be repeated.
The All Blacks refused and instead performed the haka in their dressing room before taking the field, causing consternation in the Welsh crowd. A chorus of boos and chants of "haka, haka" followed the realisation the team were not offering their usual pre-game entertainment.
The All Blacks went on to thrash Wales 45-10.
A New Zealand Rugby Union leadership trio comprising president John Graham, chairman Jock Hobbs and chief executive Chris Moller gave the All Blacks the all-clear not to perform the haka on the field after six weeks of discussions with Lewis reached an impasse.
The All Blacks finalised their plan just before they left their hotel for the ground.
Lewis remained adamant the Welsh union was correct to ask for a chance to "respond" to the haka, as he understood Maori custom dictated.
Former All Black hooker Norm Hewitt said the Welsh demand that the haka be performed between anthems was disappointing, particularly as the All Blacks had respected their wishes for the centenary test.
"They had the right to ask and the All Blacks had the right to reply," he said.
"The All Blacks paid respect to that and for them to come back and change the deal again is a bit on the nose. What I like is the All Blacks standing up for it ... I don't believe there's any room for others to start dictating to the All Blacks when and where they should do the haka," he said.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, an expert on Maori culture, said it was not for others to dictate where, when and how the haka was performed by a touring All Black team.
He backed the team's decision to do the haka in the privacy of their dressing room rather than face their adversaries before the test match got under way.
"It's a spiritual bonding held before a task at hand, or done when the task is completed," Dr Sharples said.
The significance of the occasion would be lost if others were imposing restrictions around timing or venue. "I agree it should be done, and it is entertainment for sure, but it's not for them [the Welsh] to impose ceremony."
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said the team acted to protect the tradition of the haka that is integral to NZ culture and the All Blacks' heritage. "The tradition needs to be honoured properly if we're going to do it. If the other team wants to mess around, we'll just do the haka in the shed.
"At the end of the day, haka is about spiritual preparation and we do it for ourselves.
"Traditionally fans can share the experience too and it's sad that they couldn't see it today."
Coach Graham Henry said the haka was not done for the fans but for New Zealand rugby and the players themselves.
But National Rugby Museum curator Bob Luxford believed crowds had come to expect the pre-game ritual, which was now part of an established entertainment package. Speaking from Palmerston North, he said the weekend controversy indicated the All Blacks "may be getting a tad precious about the haka".
Since the 1987 World Cup the All Blacks had developed their brand with the aid of the haka, Mr Luxford said. As a result there was now a public expectation that it would be done.
Sky Television was invited by the All Blacks to film their private pre-test haka but when Welsh officials found out they ejected cameraman Richard Owen from the ground. They also refused to allow Sky an interview with McCaw after the victory.
- Additional reporting James Ihaka, NZPA
