Marler’s dismissive haka remark offers added incentive for All Blacks
New Zealand will not be lacking motivation with squad feeling disrespected and England can expect a backlash
There are all sorts of ways a team might get ready for a big match against the All Blacks. Fair to say that the tactic of actively going out of your way to pissing them off, which is the one England seem to have gone for this week, comes in a way down the list. Joe Marler’s tweet that the haka is “ridiculous” and “needs binning” have gone down like cold sick with New Zealanders. “I’m wondering if he wishes he could have articulated himself a little bit better,” said their head coach Scott Robertson on Thursday. “The haka is not just about the All Blacks, it is about New Zealand as a country, it means a lot to us.”
Robertson said he didn’t have to pin Marler’s clippings onto the dressing room wall, social media meant his players already knew all about it. “The boys are aware of it,” Robertson said, and while he didn’t want to go so far as saying they would be using it as motivation, he did say “we’ll discuss, and decide how we’ll deal with it. Respectfully.” It was a bit like listening to the white tigers’ team talk about how they were going to deal with Siegfried & Roy.
Continue reading...Topics
-
All Blacks coach hits back at Marler's haka jibe
Top stories - BBC News - 4 hours ago -
Marler left England camp for personal reasons before post criticising haka
World - The Guardian - Yesterday -
England captain George admits Marler’s haka jibe might fire up All Blacks
World - The Guardian - 1 hour ago -
Marler criticised after saying haka 'needs binning'
Top stories - BBC News - Yesterday -
Joe Marler’s haka jibe sparks international row as New Zealand government ask: ‘Who is this guy?’
Sports - Yahoo Sports - Yesterday
More from The Guardian
-
Spain floods death toll passes 150 as country begins three days of mourning
World - The Guardian - 2 hours ago -
US election live updates: more than 60m Americans have voted already as poll says enthusiasm is high
World - The Guardian - 11 minutes ago -
US attempts to broker ceasefire as civilians killed in Lebanon and Israel
World - The Guardian - 1 hour ago -
Less sugar in first 1,000 days of life protects against chronic disease, study finds
World - The Guardian - 1 hour ago -
Elon Musk skips hearing as $1m election giveaway case moved to federal court
World - The Guardian - 1 hour ago
Latest in World
-
Iranian Officials Threaten Retaliation for Israeli Strikes
World - The New York Times - 10 minutes ago -
US election live updates: more than 60m Americans have voted already as poll says enthusiasm is high
World - The Guardian - 11 minutes ago -
West Indies v England: first men’s one-day international – live
World - The Guardian - 12 minutes ago -
Van Nistelrooy relishes leading role as he waits on future under Amorim
World - The Guardian - 24 minutes ago -
Russia says $20 decillion fine against Google is ‘symbolic’
World - The Guardian - 33 minutes ago