According to Wikipedia, the haka is a “traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.” Pre-match hakas have been a continual practice for the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team, complete with extreme facial contortions and animalistic grunts meant as a mighty act of intimidation.
None of those attributes however are present in this video captured by Channel News Asia.
At a coaching session conducted by members of the All Blacks rugby team yesterday, the students of Raffles Institution tried their best to emulate the fearsome haka performed by their mentors, but it ended up looking like an unconvincing imitation, lacking intensity and strength. Though most of them were really into it — kudos to you guys — others simply looked as if they just realised that they’re not cut out for sports after all and they’d rather be studying or something.
Good try though.
Photo: All Blacks Facebook page
