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From allblacks.com
Dave Brockhoff, one of the great characters of Australian rugby, has recounted the effect of the haka on him when he first played Test rugby.
Brockhoff, who coached the Wallabies to Bledisloe Cup success in 1979 to help revive interest in the trophy which the All Blacks had held for so long, toured New Zealand with the Wallabies of 1949.
He only learned what the Bledisloe Cup was when told about it at a pre-Test reception in Wellington held by the Australian High Commissioner, Sir Roden Cutler VC.
Brockhoff related his story in the Sydney Morning Herald and said at the time no country had beaten the All Blacks at Athletic Park.
"There they were, putting on the damn theatrics of their war cry. I was so savage before the Test that I was frightened of them".
"I was so annoyed that I was ill-equipped against those bigger, better rugby players. I went mad in the first 10 minutes according to Arthur Buchan.
"I never called it the haka. I called it their national war cry.
"It made me want to get stuck into them. It's a contact sport. You should be given the fire to fight fire with.
"As a rugby player being confronted by the haka on the field, I was always passionately moved.
"I wondered: 'Why can't my Aboriginals give me a war dance?'"
The Wallabies, with a fine team, met a New Zealand team without 30 All Blacks who were touring South Africa at the time.
They became the first overseas team to win at Athletic Park with their 11-6 margin in a game which ended with Brockhoff playing in the backline when an injury made 'Tubby' Allan a passenger.
Brockhoff said facing the haka made him respect his Australian heritage even more.
"The haka does contribute to a physical, mental supremacy.
"So often have I cherished the All Black because he plays 10 feet taller in the black jumper. The haka is embedded in the cloth, but in the cloth of the mind."
Brockhoff's rugby passion was recognised by at least one All Black who lost the Bledisloe Cup in 1979.
Lock Andy Haden sought out Brockhoff and presented his All Black jersey to him, and Brockhoff has it among his souvenirs.
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"I wondered: 'Why can't my Aboriginals give me a war dance?'"
Gee Bro, that would be cause your ancestors stole their land and children and till this day your white folk have treated them as second class citizens.
Silly buggar
Dave Brockhoff, one of the great characters of Australian rugby, has recounted the effect of the haka on him when he first played Test rugby.
Brockhoff, who coached the Wallabies to Bledisloe Cup success in 1979 to help revive interest in the trophy which the All Blacks had held for so long, toured New Zealand with the Wallabies of 1949.
He only learned what the Bledisloe Cup was when told about it at a pre-Test reception in Wellington held by the Australian High Commissioner, Sir Roden Cutler VC.
Brockhoff related his story in the Sydney Morning Herald and said at the time no country had beaten the All Blacks at Athletic Park.
"There they were, putting on the damn theatrics of their war cry. I was so savage before the Test that I was frightened of them".
"I was so annoyed that I was ill-equipped against those bigger, better rugby players. I went mad in the first 10 minutes according to Arthur Buchan.
"I never called it the haka. I called it their national war cry.
"It made me want to get stuck into them. It's a contact sport. You should be given the fire to fight fire with.
"As a rugby player being confronted by the haka on the field, I was always passionately moved.
"I wondered: 'Why can't my Aboriginals give me a war dance?'"
The Wallabies, with a fine team, met a New Zealand team without 30 All Blacks who were touring South Africa at the time.
They became the first overseas team to win at Athletic Park with their 11-6 margin in a game which ended with Brockhoff playing in the backline when an injury made 'Tubby' Allan a passenger.
Brockhoff said facing the haka made him respect his Australian heritage even more.
"The haka does contribute to a physical, mental supremacy.
"So often have I cherished the All Black because he plays 10 feet taller in the black jumper. The haka is embedded in the cloth, but in the cloth of the mind."
Brockhoff's rugby passion was recognised by at least one All Black who lost the Bledisloe Cup in 1979.
Lock Andy Haden sought out Brockhoff and presented his All Black jersey to him, and Brockhoff has it among his souvenirs.
----------------------------------------
"I wondered: 'Why can't my Aboriginals give me a war dance?'"
Gee Bro, that would be cause your ancestors stole their land and children and till this day your white folk have treated them as second class citizens.
Silly buggar
