SA Rugby has apologised for the Haka fiasco at Ellis Park, which New Zealand Rugby and the All Blacks have graciously accepted.
But the fact is it should never have happened, despite the aeroplane flyover.
I know some Springbok supporters – and there have already been quite a few on social media – who feel that “too much respect” is given to the dance, which lays down the challenge to the opposition.
Squeals of ‘special treatment’ and the like have rung out, but for real rugby lovers, it is a revered part of the game that should continue to be treasured and celebrated.
In fact, Cape Town spectators should go a step further and come up with unprecedented behaviour for Bok fans: absolute silence for the Haka.
Imagine if you could hear every word from TJ Perenara when he starts with Kapa O Pango, if it is played through the loudspeakers?
For the record, this is its translation, according to the All Blacks website:
Let me go back to my first gasp of breath,
Let my life force return to the earth,
It is New Zealand that thunders now,
And it is my time!
It is my moment!
The passion ignites!
This defines us as the All Blacks,
And it is my time!
It is my moment!
The anticipation explodes!
Feel the power,
Our dominance rises,
Our supremacy emerges,
To be placed on high,
Silver fern!
All Blacks!
Silver fern!
All Blacks!
aue hi!
Haka at Ellis Park 😤#RSAvNZL #AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/nwJ2huCh1u
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 31, 2024
It would capture the occasion perfectly, as a Springbok-All Black Test match in Cape Town is one to savour.
Instead, we had to endure “Olé! Olé! Olé!” at Ellis Park – what’s up with that being a favourite chant at Ellis Park, by the way? – not to mention the music from the stadium DJ and fireworks.
Sure, as SA Rugby stated, there was human error involved: “In the confusion, the crowd’s excited cheering was mistaken to have marked the conclusion of the Haka by an unsighted sound engineer who restarted the music programme. It was highly regrettable, but in no way deliberate.”
But Cape Town, let’s take it even further: what about absolute silence for the All Black goal-kickers, too? I have always admired crowds up north, particularly in Ireland and Wales, who observe absolute silence when someone is lining up a shot at the posts.
Apart from the respect shown to the players, it might actually add to the pressure for visiting teams, especially at a crucial stage of the game.
Saturday’s showdown is really worthy of a Rugby World Cup final, so let’s hope the occasion is treated as such by everybody involved to ensure that it is a memorable night in South African rugby history.