The Final: France vs NZ

[Athlai]

The French responded perfectly.

[ripper868]

The issue was crossing the 40m or Halfway line - something Ali Williams is yet to be pulled up for (on 3 separate occasions)

[_Ed_]

I thought the French response to the haka was phenomenal. The reaction in the crowd was immense.

[Athlai]

Probably the best ever response IMO.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by ripper868

The issue was crossing the 40m or Halfway line - something Ali Williams is yet to be pulled up for (on 3 separate occasions)

Pretty sure Williams has been pulled up for it before... Doesn't seem to stop him though.

The only issue I have with France's response is that it is banned to cross that halfway line. If it's okay, then afford every team the ability to cross the halfway line to respond to the Haka. Every other team obeyed the law in the tournament - including France in the pool stages; doesn't give them the right to do it in the Final. That said, I don't know why crossing the halfway line has been outlawed.

[Athlai]

NZ Haka vs Ireland - YouTube

[ripper868]

Originally Posted by _Ed_

I thought the French response to the haka was phenomenal. The reaction in the crowd was immense.

Agreed. Not sure if the holding hands V was the best way to approach it - linked arms works best IMO.

Have been a few challenges thrown back at the Haka recently - Australia staring down in Brisbane set the tone of the night as well - remember Wales did something similar a couple of years back as well - for about 3 minutes!

[Athlai]

Originally Posted by ripper868

Agreed. Not sure if the holding hands V was the best way to approach it - linked arms works best IMO.

Have been a few challenges thrown back at the Haka recently - Australia staring down in Brisbane set the tone of the night as well - remember Wales did something similar a couple of years back as well - for about 3 minutes!

Was straight out of The Mighty Ducks IMO. Flying V!

[Somerset]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Pretty sure Williams has been pulled up for it before... Doesn't seem to stop him though.

The only issue I have with France's response is that it is banned to cross that halfway line. If it's okay, then afford every team the ability to cross the halfway line to respond to the Haka. Every other team obeyed the law in the tournament - including France in the knockout stages; doesn't give them the right to do it in the Final. That said, I don't know why crossing the halfway line has been outlawed.

Yep Williams has been fined a few times IIRC for passing beyond the AB 10 metre line, despite being told not to. Apparently France, as the team receiving the challenge, were permitted to walk up to the halfway line but not beyond it, and thats why they got fined. Bit ridiculous IMO, although I don't imagine the fines will be extreme.

[Somerset]

Originally Posted by ripper868

Agreed. Not sure if the holding hands V was the best way to approach it - linked arms works best IMO.

Have been a few challenges thrown back at the Haka recently - Australia staring down in Brisbane set the tone of the night as well - remember Wales did something similar a couple of years back as well - for about 3 minutes!

Heres the Welsh reponse: wales haka response - YouTube

[centurymaker]

Originally Posted by Burgey

France has been fined 10,000 pounds for their response to the haka.

I understand why the authorities are worried something might spill over, but I thought the response was fantastic. I mean, the Haka is like a challenge laid down by one side, and it's a bit ordinary to deny the other side a reasonable response to it. I'm not up on the ettiquette of it all, but I didn't see anything disrespectful in what the French did (perhaps NZ supporters can clarify).

IIRC a few years back one of the teams (it may even have been Australia) copped it for turning their backs on the Haka. I can see how that's disrespctful tbh, but to then deprive the opposition of the chance to meet the challenge of it seems a bit ordinary, provided of course it's not OTT.

And I didn't think France's reaction was at all.

yeah it was great to see france coming up.

[Mike5181]

Yeah, i don't see anything wrong with what they did. It set the tone for the game. We throat cut and stuff but they get fined for walking over half way? Seems a bit harsh.

[Howe_zat]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Pretty sure Williams has been pulled up for it before... Doesn't seem to stop him though.

The only issue I have with France's response is that it is banned to cross that halfway line. If it's okay, then afford every team the ability to cross the halfway line to respond to the Haka. Every other team obeyed the law in the tournament - including France in the pool stages; doesn't give them the right to do it in the Final. That said, I don't know why crossing the halfway line has been outlawed.

Yeah, we all knew they were technically breaking the rules, so they were bound to cop something for it. A case of the law itself being annoying rather than the enforcement of it.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Mike5181

Yeah, i don't see anything wrong with what they did. It set the tone for the game. We throat cut and stuff but they get fined for walking over half way? Seems a bit harsh.

I thought the throat cutting was banned at one point - but we kept on doing it for cultural reaons.

Somers to comment....

Personally I thought it was OTT when Nonu made the throat slitting motion and pointed at one of the French guys.

If i were the NZRU I would pay half the fine. How much is it by the way
one network news said it was 5000

[Athlai]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

I thought the throat cutting was banned at one point - but we kept on doing it for cultural reaons.

Somers to comment....

Personally I thought it was OTT when Nonu made the throat slitting motion and pointed at one of the French guys.

If i were the NZRU I would pay half the fine. How much is it by the way
one network news said it was 5000

Na that lock he pointed at is such a ****.