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‘Get in their faces’ – Alan Jones urges the Wallabies to challenge the haka.
By Ben Francis
Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones is urging Australia to challenge the All Blacks haka ahead of the third round of the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney on Saturday.
With a draw in the first round in Wellington, followed by a win in Auckland a week later, the All Blacks only need to draw one of the last two rounds to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 17th time in a row.
The All Blacks have never secured the trophy on Australian soil and are determined to finish the series before Game 4 in Brisbane.
Writing a column in The Australian, Jones lashed out at the haka, calling it a “war dance” that “should only be performed on New Zealand soil when they are defending their own territory.”
That’s when Jones said he wants the Wallabies to challenge the haka, similar to what France did before the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals or what England did before their semi-final win over New Zealand in the tournament. from last year.
“Why should they be 20 meters apart? I would be telling the team to face them,” writes Jones.
“But nonetheless, I don’t think the All Blacks have any right to challenge the Wallabies on Australian soil.”
Jones wants to see an increase in defiance to the challenge set by the All Blacks haka.
“Instead of kneeling or donning the Wallaby Indian T-shirt, defend yourself against the haka,” says Jones.
World Rugby regulations dictate that a 20m gap be maintained between the two sides while performing the haka, which Jones encourages the Wallabies to avoid.
“I don’t want to offend the All Blacks. They are a wonderful team. New Zealand is a good country and we have the best relationships.”
“But nonetheless, I don’t think the All Blacks have any right to challenge the Wallabies on Australian soil,” Jones wrote in The Australian.
