We just can't 'hak' it

I always thought Wales was a champion of cultural values. I thought the Welsh were supposed to willingly and enthuiastically accept other cultures, just as we embrace our own culture despite centuries of struggle to ensure its survival. Now we have egg on our face, deemed cultural egoists, too scared to let the All Blacks perform the Haka because it would give them an adavantage. This was never the WRU's intention Im sure - I mean, if we have let NZ perform the Haka in every game against us in the past, why would we change it now? The WRU did not want it to seem as though we are denying any national team the right to any cultural practice, but now thats the very charge which is raised against them and in the eyes of the rugby world, us as the Welsh people also.

Truth be told, the WRU have acted on an assumption. They assumed that the All Blacks will perform the Haka before Mae Hen, just like last year, when it was arranged as a one-off to celebrate 100 years of Welsh-Kiwi rugby rivalry. And we all know what happens when you assume something - it makes an ASS out of U and ME. For now we are faced with a blunder which both sides are reeling from. Misunderstanding?... maybe. Sheer stubborness?... perhaps more precise to the point. But can you do afford to do that when people are paying good money to see a complete show? Those people paid to see the Haka, just as much as they paid to see a game of rugby. And because the WRU can't get their act together, the regular punter is the one who gets the shortfall.

Shame really. And those punters Im sure will disassociate themselves from the bungling WRU. As last Saturday when we invited the Maori to dinner, we may have had the welcome mat out but we clearly had no manners. And judging by the rugby, we should really learn to match our opponent's appetite for the win.