REACTION: England provocateur Joe Marler has responded to the massive fall-out over his suggestion that the All Black haka should be ‘binned’.
Marler took to social media earlier this week to deride the haka, performed by New Zealand players before each game, saying it “needs binning”.
Haka are ritual war dances that form a significant part of indigenous Maori culture, and for decades have been closely associated with the All Blacks.
Marler, who deleted his account after the initial fallout, has returned to social media to explain his controversial remarks.
The 34-year-old, who on Tuesday wasn’t included in Steve Borthwick’s match day 23 to face the All Blacks in London on Saturday, originally posted two messages.
“The haka needs binning. It’s ridiculous,” he wrote in his initial, controversy-igniting post.
This was followed by a second message.
“It’s only any good when teams actually front it with some sort of reply. Like the League boys did last week.”
Marler’s reference to Rugby League was the England versus Samoa game in Wigan last Sunday where the Samoans performed their pre-game dance while eye-balling their English opponents in a head-to-head stand-off.
In contrast, New Zealand traditionally performs its haka in Rugby Union, with the opposition standing in its own half of the pitch.
England were fined in 2019 after contravening the rule ahead of the World Cup semifinal in Japan, with Marler part of the matchday 23 that went across the line.
Following the initial controversy ignited by his two posts ahead of Saturday’s Twickenham encounter, the front row went nuclear and deleted his social media account.
However, he has now reversed that decision and reactivated his account to post two new messages, claiming he was only fishing with his original comments.
“Context is everything,” he began.
“Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses. Big Love.”
He added in a second message: “Also needed to satisfy my narcissism.”
* Meanwhile New Zealanders have scoffed at Marler’s attempts to stir up controversy.
Although the comments caused a stir in the English media, many New Zealanders brushed it off as an attention-seeking stunt.
“Who is this Joe Marler guy, I’ve never heard of him,” senior government minister David Seymour told reporters.
“In my experience, I have met a few props with very high IQs, but very few of them. So it could be something in that area,” added Seymour, who is part Maori.
Maori cultural advisor Mana Epiha told New Zealand media that Marler misunderstood the haka.
“If he doesn’t like it, that is probably a good thing,” he told news website Stuff.
“That is not for people to like, it’s for people to tremble in their boots.”
Countless critics have called for the haka to be banned over the years, alleging it gave New Zealand players an unfair pre-game edge.
The veteran prop, who has previously spoken openly about his mental health issues, had returned to the squad following a broken foot suffered against the All Blacks in July.
However, The Guardian newspaper reported that Marler left the England camp for personal reasons at the start of the week, before provoking a fierce backlash with his outlandish posts.
The reports that Marler arrived at England’s training base in Bagshot on Sunday, but informed coach Steve Borthwick and a core group of senior players of his decision to leave.
He did so before Borthwick revealed his team to face New Zealand, and Marler’s motivations are not thought to be due to selection.
Borthwick is said to be sympathetic towards Marler’s decision.
* Additional sources: @RugbyPass & AFP
