All Blacks Coach Addresses Marler’s Haka Remarks

Scott Robertson assumed the role of New Zealand coach following their loss in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. The Autumn Nations Series match between England and New Zealand is scheduled for Saturday, 2 November, at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with a kick-off time of 15:10 GMT. Live commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, and live text commentary can be followed on the BBC Sport website and app. New Zealand’s coach, Scott Robertson, suggested that England prop Joe Marler might have expressed himself more appropriately after Marler advocated for the All Blacks’ haka to be “binned”. Marler, aged 34, described the haka—a traditional pre-match challenge—as “ridiculous” in a social media post on X. He subsequently deactivated his account, then reactivated it, stating he was “just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture”. Robertson commented, “I know Joe,” adding, “I wonder if he wished he could have articulated himself a little bit better on that.” He further explained the haka’s importance: “The haka for us is a custom – it is part of who we are, it’s our DNA. It is not just about the All Blacks, it is about us as a country. It means a lot to us.” Robertson acknowledged that Marler’s social media post had been a topic of discussion among his team members. He further stated, “The boys are aware of it,” and clarified, “We don’t use it as such to say, ‘this is what has been said and it’s disrespectful’. Especially in this regard, because it has happened before. But we will discuss it and decide how we deal with it respectfully.” Marler’s remarks drew criticism from several political and cultural figures in New Zealand, intensifying the focus on a tour that will also feature the newest chapter in the All Blacks’ recent, and sometimes intense, rivalry with Ireland. On Thursday, he issued an apology for his “poorly articulated” post. England captain Jamie George expressed that he did not hold the same opinion as Marler, stating he “loves the history” of the haka. He continued, “It was always something I enjoyed watching, growing up as a rugby fan,” and remarked, “Joe and I don’t always agree on everything and we disagree on this topic. I guess he’s prodded the bear a little bit.” Assistant England coach Kevin Sinfield, who verified that Marler had departed the team camp for personal reasons prior to making his initial comments, similarly disagreed with the Harlequins prop. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Sinfield stated, “I faced the haka as a player and I faced it as a coach in the summer and both times have been really really special.” He added, “I think it is an important part of this fixture and you will see 82,000 people on Saturday who cannot wait to see it and I will be one of them.” He concluded, “But the funny thing is, there is all the chat before and afterwards but it is a very little part of what goes on on the field. The players dictate what happens out there.” England coach Kevin Sinfield described the Haka as ‘really special’. England possesses a notable history concerning the haka. Prior to a 1997 Test match at Old Trafford, England hooker Richard Cockerill confronted his counterpart Norm Hewitt face-to-face. Additionally, England adopted an arrowhead formation to face the haka before their victory over the All Blacks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final. In 2005, British and Irish Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll responded to the haka in the first Test by tearing up grass and tossing the blades into the air. Similarly, Wales challenged the haka in 2008, declining to turn away first, which resulted in a confrontation. Although both the Lions and Wales suffered significant defeats, France’s forward movement towards the haka preceded their notable 20-18 quarter-final triumph at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Regulations are currently enforced to prevent either team from approaching the other closely. Nevertheless, this has not curtailed the controversy surrounding the haka. South Africa issued an apology earlier this year after the haka was disrupted by fireworks, music, and a pre-match fly-past, attributing the incident to human error in timing rather than an intentional disrespect. Robertson characterized England’s 2019 response as “awesome.” He stated, “It is the respect thing isn’t it,” and elaborated, “There was a clear meaning behind it and was respectfully done. That’s great. That’s what we are all about.” Richard Cockerill and Norm Hewitt confronted each other in 1997.