Yesterday I was reading an article about people complaining that the Irish supporters disrespected the haka performed before yesterdays match. 
I found that people complaining was ludicrous as that is the whole part of the build up to the match. When you have 40 or 50 000 people supporting one side they get passionate and are backing their team. It is all part and parcel of what happens today. it depends on what part of the world it is I suppose and how much passion and tension is in the crowd. Next week we will hear God Save The Queen whilst the Haka is being performed or Swing Low Sweet Chariot as that is what English supporters do.
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The opposing team is expected to face the challenge and to accept the challenge thrown to them by the Haka. Some teams encroach showing they aren't intimidated by it and are ready to face them. A bit if psyching out goes on. Normally a team stands still and waits for it to be over. If a team disrespects the Haka they are liable to be fined by the RFU.
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The last one I saw live in 2015
The Haka is throwing down the challenge and is performed by the All Black rugby team before a game and has quite a bit of meaning to the players. It is performed out of respect for ex players who played for New Zealand and for those who are no longer with us. Fans see it as a challenge by the team in black and feel they need to fight back by singing. The atmosphere becomes electric and it is pretty cool to experience live.
This was the captain Kieran Read's reply when asked about why they perform the Haka and is it a challenge?
"It's as far from the truth as you can get, really. It's not about the opposition, it's about us as the All Blacks and a tradition that it's held for us over 100 years,"
"It's about connecting to guys who have gone before us and (with) the people and the land we're in at that moment. It's a tradition that we keep enjoying and will keep doing."
There have been many different renditions over the years depending on who is leading it but the words remain the same.
The All Blacks perform the Ka Mate Haka which goes like this
Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
Ā, upane! ka upane!
Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!
Translated for those of us who have no clue.
‘Tis death! ’tis death! (or: I may die) ’Tis life! ‘tis life! (or: I may live)
’Tis death! ‘tis death! ’Tis life! ‘tis life!
This is the man
Who brought the sun and caused it to shine
A step upward, another step upward!
A step upward, another… the Sun shines!
I find that keeping tradition is pretty cool and this must never change.It adds to the spectacle and it must be respected. Too many traditions have been forgotten and I am glad that this one is still alive and kicking. Teams look forward to this challenge as they always know playing them they will be in a battle.
