27 Nov 2008

All Blacks coach urge England to respect haka

10:36 am on 27 November 2008

The All Blacks coach Graham Henry has urged England to respect the pre-match haka before Saturday's test at Twickenham.

Last week Wales stood on the halfway line staring at the All Blacks after the traditional haka while referee Jonathan Kaplan tried to get the game started.

After a minute's standoff the New Zealand captain Richie McCaw intervened and the match began.

Henry says the Welsh thought that was the best way to respond, and it took someone with common sense to get things going.

He says the team does not need that every week and hopes there'll be no repeat on Sunday morning, when the All Blacks will be hoping for a win and with it the Grand Slam.