28 Nov 2008

Nonu warns England not to copy Welsh

5:57 am on 28 November 2008

The All Blacks second five Ma'a Nonu has warned England not to copy Wales's dramatic response to the haka when the teams meet at Twickenham on Sunday morning.

What to do when the All Blacks are performing their traditional pre-match challenge has often proved a problem for opposition sides.

Last weekend Wales stared down New Zealand after they finished the haka and, with neither side appearing to move, it needed the intervention of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw to end the stand-off as referee Jonathan Kaplan desperately tried to get the game underway.

Nonu says if England want to copy Wales they'll probably get the same response.

The All Blacks are now on the brink of a third grand slam title and Nonu suspects Wales coach Warren Gatland, was behind the haka response.