Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Bok legend weighs in on haka, sends message to fans ahead of Cape Town

TJ Perenara of New Zealand (R) leads the haka during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Eden Park on August 17, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)

Former Springboks captain John Smit has weighed in on the debate surrounding the haka and the respect afforded to it by South African fans.

ADVERTISEMENT

The controversy reared its head again during Saturday’s Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg, where the Springboks secured a dramatic 31-27 victory at Emirates Airline Park.

The match itself was a thriller with the Boks trailing by ten points with just ten minutes remaining. Late tries from replacements Kwagga Smith and Grant Williams turned the game in favour of the home team.

Video Spacer

All Black coach Scott Robertson and captain Scott Barrett review the loss to the Springboks

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      All Black coach Scott Robertson and captain Scott Barrett review the loss to the Springboks

      The All Blacks managed to score four tries compared to the Springboks’ three – but it was the Boks who had the last laugh. The home side only led the match for a total of nine minutes, but they ended up being the minutes that mattered.

      Much of the focus of the post-match discussion on social however shifted from the game itself to the pre-match events and specifically the treatment of the haka.

      During the haka an aeroplane flyover and loud chanting from the home crowd drowned out the traditional Maori war dance. It’s a spectacle that traditionally commands silence and respect from those in attendance and it’s ruffled feathers in NZ.

      2007 Rugby World Cup winning captain John Smit expressed his disappointment over the handling of the haka at Ellis Park, posting on X: “What a test match, but my only disappointment was the noise made and music being played during the haka. It’s a privilege to watch and hear for player and fan alike; please let’s respect it in Cape Town…”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      The vast majority of replies to his post on X were in agreement.

      “100% agree, JS. It was a timing error, not planned is the word. But still a very bad look. So much respect between the two teams and nations. There should be an official apology from someone in the event planning team,” wrote one fan, while another pointed out: “Couldn’t agree more. Not sure if the Springbok players on the day would agree to that interference of the Haka from management, or whoever [is] responsible. Great post cap”.

      Not all fans were in agreement with Smit’s take on the controversy, however.

      One fan wrote: “Our house our rules. They should be glad we allow them a couple of minutes of our time to perform their dance. We have better things to do with our time.”

      How the Cape Town Stadium crowd react to the haka this coming weekend will now no doubt be a talking point this week.

      Related

       

      ADVERTISEMENT

       

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

      New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

      Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      21 Comments
      J
      JS 213 days ago

      If people want to go and pick flies of the proverbial then the Springbok Impi warriors must also go by the wayside. Making noise during the Haka, booing during a game and a penalty kick is tacky and uncalled for. I personally dont care for the Haka but it holds a particular emotional and traditional place in New Zealand culture. It should be respected. If we want to play rugby against the All Blacks we need to respect their customs and traditions. Kill the AB's with kindness instead of getting their backs up.

      Lets play rugby and get away from all these side shows.

      A
      Axe 213 days ago

      Hope the same happens In CT SA need a home ground advantage. If you want a talk to ancestors do that in NZ.

      l
      lm 213 days ago

      Lets hope the AB's Haka their faces in Cape Town!.

      O
      OJohn 214 days ago

      There is no reason why the rest of world rugby needs to be respectful towards the haka. It's boring.

      F
      Forward pass 214 days ago

      Welcome to country in Aus is 2000 times worse. Us Kiwi's sit quietly and show respect tho. Why even show respect to the refs? Why respect the laws of the game? Boring!

      B
      Bull Shark 214 days ago

      I seem to recall SA stadiums singing Ole in response to the haka for some time now.


      But I do agree. The stadium music could have been stopped for the haka - but as too how the crowd responds to the haka I don’t think JS should be dictating. Fans are there to have a good time.

      T
      Terry24 214 days ago

      After the RWC 2023 QF NZ players abused and isnulted Irish players and spectators. No offer of apology was made beyond the manager, captain and NZ supporters intimating that the Irish deserved it.


      Looks like a timing issue with the flyover and when the Haka was supposed to take place. Sh1t happens. Get over yourselves.


      PS: Is the compere guy is the same guy who sings "Lets go Lions. Lets go!!" during the URC?

      If so he is a f**king legend. My kids kept singing that when Irish teams were playing Lions in Ellis Park. I ended up joining them. Him and his Mic should be given free reign to respond to the Haka in real time. Now that would be classic!

      L
      Linton 214 days ago

      Ruffled feathers in NZ? Rubbish. It's a challenge, you can do what you like in return. No kiwi that I know gives a sh.t.

      T
      Terry24 214 days ago

      Good to hear. I agree.

      W
      WK 214 days ago

      I've now heard from a couple of people who were at the game. They say that the music and fireworks had been timed to coincide with the Emirates Plane's flyover. What happened is that the ABs took a bit of time to honour the passing of the Maori King, which wasn't in the schedule. The result is that the Haka took place late and clashed with the flyover/music/fireworks.

      F
      Forward pass 213 days ago

      Yeah coz every one who has ever flown in a plane knows they cannot run a second late and cannot be delayed at all. Also clear is the basic and simple fact that DJs and fireworks have to go off at the exact same time every day.

      M
      MB 214 days ago

      That’s interesting. Thanks for the information.

      W
      Wayneo 214 days ago

      All this is doing is winding up the Joburg hillbillies to go even harder the next time the AB's play at Ellis Park.

      F
      Forward pass 213 days ago

      Perhaps NZ wont!

      J
      Jacque 214 days ago

      Same thing with stadium Dj's around SA. They wanna play MUSIC during EVERY break in the game. We come for the rugby NOT the music.

      S
      SteveD 214 days ago

      Totally agree. But then we're talking about the Ou Transvaal. And Loftus too. Just hope they don't do the same thing down here in the Cultured Cape on Saturday. Mind you, if it happened in the middle of the Horrible Haka...

      W
      WW 214 days ago

      Sport as it is in moderns times is entertainment and keeping the crowd motivated, very American if you ask me, but that's what we have to deal with along with the " kaka".

      Load More Comments

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Sally Thompson 1 hour ago
      Exeter's Wallabies raid set to continue with two further signings

      Services of cryptocurrencies are indispensable for secure transactions and asset management, but the complexity of digital currencies can lead to challenges, especially in recovering lost Bitcoin or other digital assets. Specialized recovery services like Brigadia Tech Recovery become crucial in such critical situations. With the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies, protecting these assets has become paramount to avoid financial loss, security risks, and missed investment opportunities. Reliable solutions are essential, and Brigadia Tech Recovery emerges as a beacon of hope in this context. Brigadia Tech Recovery is renowned for its expertise in recovering lost Bitcoin and digital currencies, setting itself apart as the go-to solution for those grappling with lost funds. My personal experience with Brigadia Tech Recovery highlighted their unmatched proficiency. Despite not reaching out to them initially about my $144,000 in misplaced Bitcoin, they swiftly became the beacon of hope I desperately needed. Their efficiency in recovering my lost funds surpassed other services, emphasizing Brigadia Tech Recovery's position as the unsung hero of cryptocurrency recovery. Their team of experts possesses in-depth knowledge of digital assets, offering hope to individuals seeking to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. With advanced security features and an intuitive interface, Brigadia Tech Recovery ensures enhanced protection and seamlessly guides users through recovery. By providing clear instructions and personalized support, they make the daunting task of Bitcoin recovery hassle-free for investors of all levels. Brigadia Tech Recovery has a new standard in Bitcoin recovery solutions, providing investors with a reliable method to safeguard their digital assets. Their expertise, efficiency, and dedication to user experience establish them as a trusted partner in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency. For anyone facing the distress of lost funds, brigadia tech remikeable, Stands ready to offer assistance and restore hope in challenging times. I am deeply grateful to know about Brigadia Tech Recovery. To learn more about Brigadia Tech Recovery, contact them

      Email:(Brigadia tec hremikeable (@) Proton (.) me)

      1 Go to comments
      S
      Sally Thompson 1 hour ago
      Exeter's Wallabies raid set to continue with two further signings

      Services of cryptocurrencies are indispensable for secure transactions and asset management, but the complexity of digital currencies can lead to challenges, especially in recovering lost Bitcoin or other digital assets. Specialized recovery services like Brigadia Tech Recovery become crucial in such critical situations. With the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies, protecting these assets has become paramount to avoid financial loss, security risks, and missed investment opportunities. Reliable solutions are essential, and Brigadia Tech Recovery emerges as a beacon of hope in this context. Brigadia Tech Recovery is renowned for its expertise in recovering lost Bitcoin and digital currencies, setting itself apart as the go-to solution for those grappling with lost funds. My personal experience with Brigadia Tech Recovery highlighted their unmatched proficiency. Despite not reaching out to them initially about my $144,000 in misplaced Bitcoin, they swiftly became the beacon of hope I desperately needed. Their efficiency in recovering my lost funds surpassed other services, emphasizing Brigadia Tech Recovery's position as the unsung hero of cryptocurrency recovery. Their team of experts possesses in-depth knowledge of digital assets, offering hope to individuals seeking to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. With advanced security features and an intuitive interface, Brigadia Tech Recovery ensures enhanced protection and seamlessly guides users through recovery. By providing clear instructions and personalized support, they make the daunting task of Bitcoin recovery hassle-free for investors of all levels. Brigadia Tech Recovery has a new standard in Bitcoin recovery solutions, providing investors with a reliable method to safeguard their digital assets. Their expertise, efficiency, and dedication to user experience establish them as a trusted partner in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency. For anyone facing the distress of lost funds, brigadia tech remikeable, Stands ready to offer assistance and restore hope in challenging times. I am deeply grateful to know about Brigadia Tech Recovery. To learn more about Brigadia Tech Recovery, contact them

      Email:(Brigadiatechremikeable (@) Proton (.) me)

      1 Go to comments
      f
      fl 2 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement?”

      It is an achievement. It is less of an achievement than he managed with Barcelona. You said that ”He has gotten better with age. By every measure.” He hasn’t. Doesn’t mean he isn’t still extremely good though!


      ”I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…”

      are you really this incapable of understanding the context of what I’m saying? My point is that Gatland was a good coach ten years ago, and isn’t a good coach now. So what he did ten years ago is relevant to whether he was good ten years ago - that is pretty basic stuff.

      On the other hand, what Les Kiss did ten years ago isn’t relevant to how good he is now, just as what Gatland did ten years ago isn’t relevant to how good he is now.


      ”So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?”

      I was replying to your comment, given you have the memory of a goldfish and are unable to scroll up, I’m remind you what you said:

      “Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.”

      172 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Can we have our Champions Cup back, please?' Mick Cleary: 'Can we have our Champions Cup back, please?'
      Search