Rugby fans were not happy with some English supporters singing ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ during the New Zealand haka at Twickenham on Saturday.
New Zealand performed the Kapa O Poango haka, an alternative to the more traditional Ka Mate haka, that is designed to reflect the multi-cultural make-up of contemporary New Zealand – in particular the influence of Polynesian cultures.
Several teams have challenged the haka before with France famously walking up to the New Zealand team during the performance before going on to beat them during the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
English fans also sang ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ during the haka before their 2012 win over New Zealand at Twickenham but some rugby fans weren’t impressed by the fact that the song was sang during their latest Autumn international on Saturday.
HAKA DONE… GAME TIME!
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✍️blog here: https://t.co/dKghjhnZhg#ENGvNZL #QuilterInternationals #FollowTheRose pic.twitter.com/6j28Su5vBP
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) November 10, 2018
For once the Haka isn't the most overblown ceremonial element of an All Blacks matchday. Britain's glamourisation of war is bizarre. #ENGvNZL
— Ronan MuIIɐn (@RonanReigns) November 10, 2018
Some disrespect from the English fans, singing that shite 'Sweet Chariot' over the haka, which is a traditional ceremonial dance. I hope the All Blacks destroy them.
— Mícheál Ó Scannáil (@moscannail) November 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/tobyrgriffiths/status/1061273310347051008
https://twitter.com/Learphollach/status/1061273583098445829
https://twitter.com/OwenJump/status/1061276912792805377
https://twitter.com/jordanxquinn/status/1061275796281679872
However, a section of England rugby fans were quite proud of the fact that the crowd challenged the haka with former England lock Nick Kennedy claiming that hearing ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ at Twickenham was one of the highlights of his career.
Good luck to @EnglandRugby today. When we played NZ, the Twickenham crowd drowned out the Haka with “Swing Low”. It was amazing and a career highlights for me….until we got 4 yellow cards. pic.twitter.com/2TAB2JVSKY
— Nick Kennedy (@NickKennedy4) November 10, 2018
The Haka drowned out and rightly so
— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) November 10, 2018
Question. Why should the haka be respected? #ENGvNZ
— Warren S (@1wozza) November 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/RhianS/status/1061273852800589825
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