All Blacks Lashed for 'Disrespectful' Haka

The All Blacks' haka performance before their famous 40-29 loss to Ireland in Chicago has been labelled disrespectful by New Zealand rugby great Craig Dowd.

The world rugby power's decision to perform the Kapo o Pango in front of the sold out crowd of 62,300 at Soldier Field left Dowd cringing.

The former All Blacks' prop with 60 Test caps says it was a decision New Zealand got badly wrong in the face of Ireland's outpouring of emotion for former Irish international and Munster coach Anthony Foley, who died in October at the age of 42.

In a column for ESPN, Dowd wrote the All Blacks' decision to perform their most aggressive haka was disrespectful towards Ireland's players and the grief many carried into the game.

The Irish team had pre-organised an emotional tribute to Foley as a battle-cry response to the All Blacks' haka challenge - lining up in a figure eight formation to face the haka as a tribute to Foley, who played in the No. 8 position.

Dowd wrote New Zealand should have been ready for Ireland's emotional tribute. "I watched the haka and cringed," Dowd wrote.

"Someone didn't do their homework in the All Blacks camp. Knowing a little bit about the Irish mentality and having had a 64-Test cap veteran and ex-Munster coach Anthony Foley die recently, with all the players wearing black armbands and having a moment's silence for him before the game, and knowing what that meant to the Irish team and the public, I thought pulling out the Kapo O Pango haka was disrespectful.

- NZ Herald