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International

Scott Robertson tackles rumours of an England haka challenge

By PA

31 days ago

New Zealand players perform a Haka prior to the "Gallagher Cup" international rugby test match between Ireland and New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on November 1, 2025. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Scott Robertson insists New Zealand would welcome a challenge to the haka from England when the rivals clash at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Twelve months ago England advanced to the halfway line to the delight of an 82,000 crowd at Twickenham before being edged 24-22, while in 2019 they lined up in a V formation before crushing the All Blacks 19-7 in the World Cup semi-finals.

Extra spice was given to last autumn’s Hillary Shield showdown when prop Joe Marler, who has now retired, stated the haka is “ridiculous” and “needs binning”, provoking a furious backlash in New Zealand.

The build-up to the rematch has been less controversial but Robertson understands the sporting theatre provided by opponents responding to the Maori war dance.

“The haka’s setting a challenge and if someone does something different, respectfully, you welcome it,” the All Blacks head coach said.

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“There are always rules of engagement around it, but they know what we’re going to do. If you haven’t planned or covered off what they’re going to do, it can be unexpected, and that’s part of it.”

A pivotal moment in Saturday’s collision will be the battle between the benches, with New Zealand including Samisoni Taukei’aho, Wallace Sititi, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie among their reinforcements.

England have stacked their replacements with five British and Irish Lions forwards, with the bomb squad proving decisive in toppling Australia and Fiji so far this autumn.

“The finishing of Test matches is critical and whoever you bring on needs to make an impact,” Robertson said.

“We’ve got good cohesion after a couple of Tests. A lot of the combinations have played together and we have a good, powerful bench to get us home.”

New Zealand will be led by Scott Barrett after the second row recovered from the wound needing 12 stitches sustained against Ireland at the start of their end-of-year tour.

“It’s remarkable once you saw Scott’s cut, he’s got good healing powers. We’ve had to pull him back a bit in training. He’s ready to go,” Robertson said.

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Comments

57 Comments

SR 29 days ago

Yes we’d welcome a challenge to the Dhaka that’s the POINT!. I’m over this continually regurgitated pathetic whinging from England about the Dhaka. No one else has a problem with it. did they ve ap problem with itsay anything about the Fijian challenge or the Samoan challenge? No didn’t think so. It’s tired and pompous give it a rest England! BTW Marler is old news and a walking whinge bag anyway.Not saying the current England squad have a problem with it. The media need todropit

SR 29 days ago

Hake not Dhaka oops

B O 29 days ago

Good Luck ABs for your match against England. Kia Kaha

rr 30 days ago

Bring on the Morris dancing…get your hankys out boys …you’re going to need them

Perthstayer 30 days ago

The Haka 🥱

Dave Didley 30 days ago

It's like saying grace before dinner.

Faintly ridiculous for grown adults to do, but others go for it.

Both views are fine.

SR 29 days ago

So wahr about Fijian and Samoan adults?

d 30 days ago

“For what we are about to receive, God help us” might actually be more appropriate, unless they all suddenly learn to catch.

d 30 days ago

A brief haka is fine, but the way they keep embellishing it with throat-slitting gestures and clubs is a bit precious and childish. When they drop every ball kicked their way, you wonder whether the energy might be better spent in practising things that count.

Hammer Head 28 days ago

I’ve always wondered about that. How much practice time goes into the haka.

Certainly more time than England took to practice making a shape of the letter C.

Wiseguy 30 days ago

You’re white, over 60, probably live in the South Island and you played rugby with a Maori back in the 70’s and he never did the haka or complained about anything. Tell me I’m wrong.

BH 30 days ago

Oh look, a little sensitive commenter with no idea and respect about indigenous culture. Maybe the opposite teams could do river dancing or morris dancing instead. Or perhaps they could sing a slavery song like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”? A rendition of “Tie me kangaroo down sport” or “Waltzing Matilda”? Cook a lekker braai on the halfway line bru?

cw 31 days ago

Pre match haka interesting, but the real drama is the reversion to a formula that failed so miserably against the ferosity of the Boks in Wellington and the Argentians in BA. If anything ABs needed to come out firing on all cylinders with Wallace at 6 and Fainga’anuku at 13 and Rieko at 14/11 and a bench stacked with forwards to nullify the inevitable second half onslaught.

JW 30 days ago

the real drama is the reversion to a formula that failed so miserably against the ferosity of the Boks in ..

Thought you were going to say “world cup semi'“ there. 😉

Another 30 days ago

Firstly, it isn’t the same formula as Wellington. It isn’t the same team:

- Holland was on the bench, now he is starting.

- Newall was on the bench, now he is starting.

- Tupaea was on the bench, now he is starting.

- McKenzie was starting at Fullback, now he is on the bench.

- Will Jordan was starting at Wing, now he is starting at Fullback.

- Takei’aho was starting, now is on the bench.

- Sititi was starting, now he is on the bench.

- Leeroy Carter played on the Left Wing, now he is on the Right Wing.

- McAlister and Kirifi were on the bench, now they aren’t.

- Jordie Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrell Lomax were all starting, now they aren’t.

- Taylor, Tosi, Lord, Lakai, Roigard, Ratima, ALB, and Fainga’anuku weren’t involved at all, now they are.

Secondly, England aren’t the same as the Springboks.

rr 30 days ago

Reckon…Reiko outside Leicester has major potential

Budhachief 30 days ago

Exactly. What do they see in Proctor? He's made 0 impact. I'd prefer Ioane at centre, at least he's strong defensively.Fainganuku at centre and Caleb Tangitau on the wing would be a better balance.

I'd be happy for Proctor to prove me wrong though and hope he does have the best game of his life I just can't see it happening.

Hammer Head 31 days ago

I vote for Henry to lead with his chin into the Haka.

JW 30 days ago

More likely to throw flowers

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