Rassie reveals Boks’ new Haka mindset, calls on Ellis Park crowd to embrace war cry

Rassie Erasmus has revealed that the Springboks have adopted a very different mindset towards the All Blacks’ Haka ahead of Saturday’s opening Test at Ellis Park.

Erasmus said former All Black and current Bok attack coach Tony Brown’s explanation of the ritual had changed the way the squad views one of rugby’s most iconic traditions.

“It’s massive. It’s a very emotional thing to have the privilege to face the Haka,” Erasmus said on Thursday. “Since Tony has described it for us, it’s actually an honour for us to face it.”

WHY THEY ARE APPROACHING THE HAKA DIFFERENTLY NOW

The Springboks previously considered ways of responding to the Haka, with Erasmus admitting they once wondered how they could neutralise its impact.

“In the past, we always thought, how are we going to cancel this?” he said.

That thinking has now changed.

“It’s not what it does to us, it’s what it does to them,” Erasmus explained. “You can’t nullify what the Haka does to them.”

Rather than attempting to disrupt the revered ritual, Erasmus wants his players to experience the moment and allow their opponents to draw whatever they need from it.

“You won’t see us doing funny tricks when they do the Haka,” he said.

“The players are looking forward to it. It’s a very emotional, proud thing to be part of,” he said.

RASSIE’S REQUEST TO SPRINGBOK SUPPORTERS

The Springboks coach also wants the Ellis Park crowd to embrace the moment rather than trying to drown it out.

“I will even WhatsApp or tweet or whatever, again to the Ellis Park people [crowd] too,” Erasmus said. “If the crowd really hears it and they see the guys’ faces, it’s something.”

He believes allowing the Haka to play out in full will make the atmosphere that follows even more powerful.

“After that we can erupt; South Africa, we can go crazy,” Erasmus said. “If we really experience it, it’s something very powerful.”

THE MAIN THING MUST STAY THE MAIN

The emotional build-up will, however, have to give way to the demands of Test rugby once the Haka is done, with Erasmus saying his players must immediately switch into game mode.

“Who’s kicking off, what’s my role at the kick-off, so that’s how we handle it,” he concluded.