All Blacks To Perform Traditional Haka

…Richie McCaw (left) and the All Blacks performing the Haka in Dublin last November…

The All Blacks will perform the traditional Ka Mate haka before tomorrow’s first Test against Ireland in Hamilton, and not the dramatic new Kapa o Pango haka.

The Kapa o Pango, first performed against South Africa in Dunedin during last year’s Tri-Nations, has a controversial ending as it finishes with the New Zealand players drawing an imaginary kife across their throats.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller held a press conference on the subject and admitted that the NZRU board had discussed the two hakas earlier this year and called for a review of Kapa o Pango, which he and All Blacks manager Darren Shand are conducting.

Shand explained that the decision to opt for Ka Mate for tomorrow’s Test match was “based solely on the fact we have two guys training to lead the haka, which is a tough job to follow on from last year’s captain Tana (Umaga). He did a magnificent job and it’s taking them a while to get their timing right.”

Highlanders prop Carl Hayman is to lead the Ka Mate haka tomorrow.

Full-back Mils Muliaina confirmed to Newstalk ZB that the New Zealand squad had practiced both hakas this week, but decided that “Ka Mate was much stronger at the moment.” Muliaina added that the players had not been told not to perform the Kapa o Pango, but they just want to use Ka Mate.

KA MATE HAKA WORDS:

Ringa pakia
(Slap the hands against the thighs)
Uma tiraha
(Puff out the chest)
Turi whatia
(Bend the knees)
Hope whai ake
(Let the hip follow)
Waewae takahia kia kino
(Stamp the feet as hard as you can)
Ka mate! Ka mate!
(It is death!, It is death!)
Ka ora! Ka ora!
(It is life!, It is life!)
Ka mate! Ka mate!
(It is death! It is death!)
Ka ora! Ka ora!
(It is life! It is life!)
Tenei Te Tangata Puhuru huru
(This is the hairy man)
Nana nei tiki mai (Who fetched the sun)

Whakawhiti te ra
(And caused to shine again)
A upa ne ka up ane
(One upward step, another upward step)
Upane, Kaupane
(An upward step)
Whiti te ra
(The sun shines!)