The aggressive dances of the Pacific Islands. Haka, Cibi, Siva Tau and Sipi Tau.

rugbyrugby.com ^ | 31/10/03 | By Paul Dobson

[.cnI redruM]

So that's what all those Island dudes are saying....

[maui_hawaii]

The Haka kicks A**.

[maui_hawaii]

You can ask to have a hangi (sp?) in the back yard too.

MMMMMM!!!!

[.cnI redruM]

I actually saw a team haka before a match when I played in California. it's impressive and it attracts all the fans from nearby fields at large tournaments.

[potlatch]

This might interest you!

[martin_fierro]

Aggressive? He looks ill.

[No!]

Went to Tahiti over 20 years ago now...
`Was where I learned to dislike the FRENCH firsthand!

Tahitians are beautiful and proud people that SHOULD have their own country back!

[maui_hawaii]

I've had a team of guys (not the All Blacks-except for one guy who was trying out) do the hakka for #1 here... right in my face... up CLOSE...

It makes the hair stand up on your arms... and hope you don't meet those guys in a dark alley.

Talk about a warm kiwi reception :o)

We all had dinner after they scared the living daylights out of me.

[Scenic Sounds]

Did you know that Robert Louis Stevenson, while he lived in Samoa, sort of took sides in a civil war there?

Not kidding about this one. ;-)

[steplock]

The Cibi:


Siva Tau:

[ccmay]

it's impressive and it attracts all the fans from nearby fields at large tournaments.

I love to watch the close-ups of the opposing team while the All Blacks do the Haka. They feign indifference or contempt, but it is written on their faces that they are a) intimidated and b) envious.

-ccm

[ccmay]

Here's the Haka.

-ccm

[.cnI redruM]

1) Did they 'serenade' you after the game?

2) Did anyone wind up 'zuluing' or 'shooting the boot'?

[.cnI redruM]

Martin Johnson doesn't feign indifference. He stares them down and it looks like he's about to pop an eyeball or bust a blood vessal. It was first-rate pre-match drama to see Samoa dance the haka and see Johnson give them the Mike Tyson ear-munching stare.

[.cnI redruM]

Awesome. The photography really helps tell the story on this one.

[shaggy eel]

We all had dinner after they scared the living daylights out of me.

,,, street theatre, nothing less. Psychological panelbeating as pre-match foreplay. Two hundred years ago you would have been dinner.

[Interesting Times]

The first guy reminds me of John Belushi.

[shaggy eel]

,,, the Haka™ has become a pre-match ritual which is culturally defended to the hilt. Non-Maori New Zealanders performing it aren't regarded too highly by some Maoris. Conversely, a certain element of Maoris trying to extort performance fees from non-Maoris who attempt to perform it aren't too highly regarded by many non-Maoris.