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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ripper" data-source="post: 91672">This is the real guts....the WRU chose the wrong way on how to respond to the haka.  National anthems are in a class of their own and are not "pre match entertainment."  They are sacred and should be left alone....to try and respond to a pre match entertainment ritual (cos that is what the haka originally was) with something as sacred as the national anthem is appropriate in a Maori context.....but not in a sporting one.  "Bread of Heaven" would have freaked me out a whole lot more as a response as I know the words from singing it in church and you can really tie the meaning into an objective for the Welsh players to "be strong."Guide me, O Thou great RedeemerPilgrim through this barren landI am weak but Thou art mightyHold me with Thy powerful hand.Bread of heaven, bread of heavenFeed me till I want no more (I want no more)Feed me till I want no more.Open now the crystal fountainWhence the healing waters flowLet the fiery, cloudy pillarLead me all my journey through.Strong Deliv'rer, Strong Deliv'rerBe Thou still my strength and shield (strength and shield)Be Thou still my strength and shield.When I tread the verge of JordanBid my anxious fears subsideDeath of death, and hell's destruction,Land me safe on Canaan's sideSongs of praises, songs of praisesI will ever give to Thee (give to Thee)I will ever give to Thee. Mate....with all those Welsh fans singing at the same time....bloody hell...the Welsh may have been the team to come out fully fired up and could have immediately put the AB's on the defensive.  Very hard to dig yourself out of a rut when you are on the back foot.  This would have so added to the occasion and could have re-sparked a once strong rivalry!In the end the WRU focussed too much on trying to depower the AB's rather than empowering the Welsh players.....and it backfired.  They should have looked at history and noted that the AB's play their best when their backs are against the wall and play their shockers when they are expected to win.  The NZ team did their haka LITERALLY on Saturday with their backs agaginst the walls of a changing room.  By the time they came out they were ready to break out from that oppressive feel....which they did in the 4th minute.  After 4 mins when the first try was scored I knew the game was over.[/b]</blockquote>And nothing riles them up more than ignoring/disrespecting the Haka.  Like in 1996 when the Wallabies didn't face the Haka that one windy, rainy day...[/QUOTE]

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