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A decade ago, many All Blacks felt that the haka was no longer appropriate, All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka Enoka revealed.
Enoka said the team went through a period where they were asking questions about the haka
"A lot of the guys said 'hang on, I'm not sure if we even want to do it any more. Perhaps this is no longer for us.'"
Enoka said the haka was at that time "acting as a distraction before
kick-off as film crews rammed microphones and cameras ever closer to the
players' faces."
Centre Aaron
Mauger also revealed how it was becoming a burden for the players because
the cameras were in their faces and that they were "doing it for the wrong
reasons".
Management and senior leaders, led by Tana
Umaga, held discussions on how the haka could be maintained and kept
relevant and consultations were held with the Ngati Toa
tribe, to whom Ka Mate Ka Mate belongs, and it was decided to commission Derek
Lardelli, an expert in Maori customs, to compose a new haka tailored
specifically for the All Blacks.
And so Kapa o Pango was born.
With the haka still going strong in 2014, expect the All Blacks to perform it when they tackle England at Twickenham on Saturday (kick-off 16:30 SA time).
Teams:
England:
15
Mike Brown, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11
Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Danny Care, 8-Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris
Robshaw (captain), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David
Wilson, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler
Substitutes: 16 Rob Webber,
17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Morgan, 21
Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Anthony Watson
New Zealand:
15
Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11
Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie
McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3
Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett,
Substitutes: 16 Keven
Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20
Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ryan Crotty
