Song and dance by fans puts end to Aussie stunt

By PAULA OLIVER

The Australian Rugby Union has pulled the plug on a controversial plan to perform an "Okka" haka because it says its own fans did not support the concept.

Described as a light-hearted stunt, the chant, called Okka by a Sydney radio station, ran into trouble this week when All Black coach Wayne Smith said it was disrespectful.

Smith warned the Wallabies that they would need to be at their best if they were to mock New Zealand's haka.

Written by station breakfast host Andrew Denton, the Aussie war dance repeated several Wallaby players' names to the rhythm of the All Black haka.

It was to be performed before tomorrow night's crucial test at Stadium Australia with the blessing of the Australian Rugby Union.

But yesterday the ARU said Okka had been dropped.

"The decision is based not so much on the bleating from across the Tasman, as a concern that it wouldn't get the full support of our own fans," a spokeswoman for the ARU said. "We have had numerous e-mails and phone calls from Wallaby supporters saying we shouldn't do it."

She said the ARU would instead urge people to wear yellow and sing Waltzing Matilda.

The ARU said that the idea had been a bit of fun.

Okka would have been performed by a 100-strong cheerleading squad, with the support of spectators at the ground who were to have received "Wallaby Warrior" masks from the radio station.

The Okka haka...

Ahhh George Gregan, George Gregan, Ealsey, Ealsey

Ahhh George Gregan, George Gregan, Ealsey, Ealsey

Ahhh Larkham and Burkey and Foley, Foley

Come on Smithy and Roffy and Herbert, too

Ahh Kefu, Ahhh Kefu

Ah Kefu and Walker will go through you

Hee!