England Captain Jamie George and his Teammates Ponder Unorthodox Response to All Blacks’ Haka

As England prepares to take on the formidable All Blacks in the opening Test, captain Jamie George and his senior team-mates are considering an unorthodox response to the haka, the traditional pre-match ritual performed by the New Zealand side.

George reflected on how England’s ‘V’ formation to stare down the haka prior to the 2019 World Cup semi-final had helped to set the tone for their historic victory over the All Blacks in Yokohama, Japan. The hooker acknowledged that the haka is a significant part of the occasion, and any response should not detract from its importance.

“The Haka is something we’ve spoken about,” said George. “We’ve got some local knowledge – Ethan Roots (Exeter’s New Zealand-born flanker) spoke very well about that in a players’ meeting this week. I think we’re as well prepared as we ever have been in terms of trying to make new players who haven’t played against New Zealand aware of what it’s about.”

Head coach Steve Borthwick has left the decision up to the players, and George is set to consult with the senior leadership group to determine their approach. The captain emphasized that the most important aspect is to back up any pre-match statement with a strong performance on the pitch.

“The most important thing regardless of what you do for the Haka and what happens before the game, the first 10 minutes of a Test match sets the tone. What we did (in 2019) was that we put our necks on the line in terms of doing something different and challenging and then we backed it up. That’s going to be the most important thing regardless of what we do.”

England’s preparations have been further fueled by perceived disrespect from the All Blacks, with wing Sevu Reece’s inability to discuss the visitors’ exciting young players raising eyebrows. George, however, remains focused on his side’s own game plan, determined to set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling series opener.

“We are a team that always wants to know our opposition inside-out because we want to be able to pick them apart. That’s how we see the game. If they see the game differently and want to focus on themselves, that’s great. Go and do your thing, we’ll see who works out best on Saturday. We want to throw everything at this, whether they know who we are or not. That doesn’t fuss me whatsoever.”

With national pride on the line in a major sporting weekend, George is eager for his England team to lead the charge and make the nation proud with a strong performance against the All Blacks.

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