Match Preview – England vs New Zealand

Date:

Share post:


England prop Ellis Genge says the squad are to plan and resolve on their haka response for Saturday’s Check

Ellis Genge says England are to resolve on and plan their problem to the haka after Joe Marler triggered a storm by calling for New Zealand’s pre-match ritual to be scrapped forward of Saturday’s Check. 

Marler has since apologised, saying he “meant no malice”, after taking to social media to model the haka “ridiculous” and stating it needs to be “binned”, however captain Jamie George fears his feedback might have “prodded the bear.”

George and coach Kevin Sinfield advised Sky Sports activities earlier this week they each “love the haka”, with Sinfield even stating present World Rugby guidelines on haka responses are “rightly so”.

All eyes can be on the Maori conflict dance at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) on Saturday when the All Blacks launch the Autumn Nations Collection – and England might add to the spectacle by their response.

“We’ll chat about it later on, we’ve got a meeting and we’ll see what the craic is,” Bristol prop Genge mentioned.

New Zealand's haka was described as 'ridiculous' this week by England prop Joe Marler, who has since apologised

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

New Zealand’s haka was described as ‘ridiculous’ this week by England prop Joe Marler, who has since apologised

New Zealand’s haka was described as ‘ridiculous’ this week by England prop Joe Marler, who has since apologised

“We’re not going to start climbing on each other’s shoulders, but we’ll sit there respectfully and watch it.

“I’ve solely confronted it as soon as [in 2022]. It is huge within the historical past of the sport. Most individuals who aren’t essentially too fascinated by rugby nonetheless know what the haka is.

“It’s a massive part of rugby in general. I know some people are divided on it but I quite like it. It’s a bit of a challenge. I’m a big fan of it.

“Are you not allowed to advance in the direction of it anyway? I do not know the ruling on it. It is a good a part of the sport and I do not suppose we should always do away with it.

Jamie George, Ben Spencer and Kevin Sinfield reflect on what it means to play against the All Blacks

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Jamie George, Ben Spencer and Kevin Sinfield replicate on what it means to play in opposition to the All Blacks

Jamie George, Ben Spencer and Kevin Sinfield replicate on what it means to play in opposition to the All Blacks

“I think you should be able to respond but everyone is respectful when they do. I don’t think we have seen anyone take the Michael, so to speak.

“I fairly just like the affect it has, nevertheless it’s a problem is not it? Clearly we would like Twickenham on their toes no matter whether or not there is a haka or not. I am positive they may affect it in their very own means.”

After suffering a hip injury last year, Tom Curry is delighted to be back in England colours for their Autumn Internationals, beginning against New Zealand on Saturday

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

After suffering a hip injury last year, Tom Curry is delighted to be back in England colours for their Autumn Internationals, beginning against New Zealand on Saturday

After suffering a hip injury last year, Tom Curry is delighted to be back in England colours for their Autumn Internationals, beginning against New Zealand on Saturday

Barrett: Haka is bigger than rugby – we love it when teams respond and walk forward

New Zealand captain Scott Barrett said on Friday:

“I assume there are all the time opinions in regards to the haka and its place. It is massively vital to us and has been to the All Blacks for a very long time. We get quite a bit from it.

“It’s been a huge part of the All Blacks. It’s bigger than rugby in a sense. You speak to people from America and lesser-known rugby nations and they know rugby in New Zealand for the haka, so it is huge for us and unites us.

All Blacks lock and skipper Scott Barrett told media the haka is 'bigger than rugby' and they 'love it' when teams respond

All Blacks lock and skipper Scott Barrett advised media the haka is ‘larger than rugby’ they usually ‘find it irresistible’ when groups reply

“In these moments, regardless of the [opposition] crew brings and you find yourself going through, you find it irresistible.

“If they walk forward it means they are up for the first whistle. If that happens, we know we are in for a good Test match.

“We do not want any further motivation heading to Twickenham in opposition to a crew that will desperately like to beat us so we now have acquired to respect what’s coming.”

England’s George and Sinfield back haka

England skipper Jamie George told Sky Sports:

“Joe [Marler] and I do not all the time agree on every thing and we definitely do not agree on this. I am an enormous fan of the haka.

“Growing up a huge rugby fan, I loved it when I was growing up and I’ve loved the opportunity to face it.

“I really like the theatre that it brings, I really like the response from the followers. I am an enormous fan.

England's George, Sinfield and Spencer say they support the All Blacks' ritual of the haka in contrast to the opinion of Marler after his social media comments

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

England’s George, Sinfield and Spencer say they assist the All Blacks’ ritual of the haka in distinction to the opinion of Marler after his social media feedback

England’s George, Sinfield and Spencer say they assist the All Blacks’ ritual of the haka in distinction to the opinion of Marler after his social media feedback

“I think as long as it’s [a response] done in a respectful way, that’s something that adds to the theatre and spectacle of it all.

“It is a problem that is been laid down, so the way you reply is then as much as you so long as you do it in the precise means.

“Terrifying is the wrong word. I love it. There are two ways to think of it, you can be terrified or you can stand up tall and think, ‘how amazing is this’ and take yourself back to telling seven-year-old you that you’re stood there facing the haka in front of 82,000 people. There’s no feeling like it.”

World Rugby guidelines restrict how shut opposing groups can get to one another when going through the haka, a Maori conflict dance, and forestall them from crossing the midway line.

Crew positions

If each groups plan to carry out a cultural problem, a coin toss determines area positions. The winner can transfer as much as the midway line, whereas the opposite crew should keep behind their very own 10-metre line.

Crew separation

If just one crew is performing a problem, the opposite crew cannot cross the midway line, and the performing crew cannot cross their very own 10-metre line.

Penalties

Groups that breach these guidelines will be fined. For instance, in 2019 England have been fined £2,000 for crossing the midway line whereas going through New Zealand’s haka within the Rugby World Cup semi-final. In 2011, France have been fined £2,500 for advancing on New Zealand whereas they carried out the haka earlier than the World Cup closing.

England coach Kevin Sinfield advised Sky Sports activities:

“I love the haka. I was fortunate enough to face it as a player, fortunate enough in the summer to face it as a coach.

“I believe it is a sensible a part of rugby, an excellent a part of skilled sport. I believe folks wish to see it, and it represents their tradition so it provides a bit extra to the sport on Saturday.

“I’m sure it will be a special haka this weekend, I’m sure the support at the Allianz Stadium will get right behind the haka when it happens and it’s great for our players to experience facing it, so I’m all for it.

“There are legal guidelines in place and rightly so [regarding Haka responses]. I do not suppose what occurred in rugby league is regular. I did see the clips from final week however I do not suppose that is a typical response to a haka.

“I know there have been occasions where similar events have happened, but I think we’re quite respectful as a nation and should continue to be so.”

England vs New Zealand confirmed groups

England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Harry Randall, 23 George Ford.

All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima; 1 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Scott Barrett, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 6 Wallace Sititi, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Ardie Savea.

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi,18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie

Hold throughout Skysports.com/rugby-union for all our protection this November as England, Eire, Wales, Scotland and France meet the heavyweights of the southern hemisphere within the Autumn Nations Collection.

Related articles