New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has warned England that Joe Marler has “loaded his guns” with his inflammatory comments about the haka. Mahler angered the All Blacks ahead of Saturday’s game at the Allianz Stadium by using social media to call for a ‘binning’ of the pre-match Maori war dance, adding it was ‘absurd’.
The veteran prop, who will not be participating in the fall opener due to personal reasons, later apologized for his comments, but Barrett suggested the damage had already been done. “That person probably had the gun loaded. “Isn’t that right?” The second line was announced after New Zealand’s final training session on Friday.
“It seems like there are always opinions about the Haka and its location. It is very important to us and has been for the All Blacks for a long time. We get a lot from it. He was a big part of the All Blacks. In some ways it’s bigger than rugby. “We talk to people from the US and lesser-known rugby countries and they know New Zealand rugby by the haka, so it means a lot to us and brings us together.”
England are considering what their reaction will be when the haka is performed in the first of four Tests at Twickenham this month. “At that moment, you love it, whatever the team brings, whatever you end up facing,” he said.
“If they walk forward, it means they are ready for the first whistle. If that happens, I know we will have a good Test match. “We don’t need any extra motivation heading into Twickenham against a team that wants to beat us, so we have to respect what’s going to happen.”
one to one
Last 5 Meetings
average score
18
There have been only two Tests between the rivals in London in the last 10 years, giving Saturday’s clash rare value. The All Blacks won the summer series 2-0 but the clash between Dunedin and Auckland was a closely contested affair with only eight points separating them in both games.
“England haven’t played a Test match since they played us in July, so they will have a stone in their shoes that they have been carrying for some time and will be keen to shake it off with a good performance,” Barrett said.
“Up front, they always pose a threat – George Martin, Jamie George, Maro Itoje. They formed a strong bond there. If they get the gain lines and fastballs for Marcus Smith and the defense they have, they could eventually chase the game away. Therefore, it is important to control the breakdown and get good balls. “It will be arm wrestling.”
