the thrill of the All Blacks haka in its toughest version

As is often the case against the French XV, the New Zealanders chose Kapa o Pango to kick off the clash at the Stade de France this Saturday, for the Blues' second test match in this autumn tour.

A Kapa o Pango to launch hostilities. Before the start of the test match against the French XV, the All Blacks went directly on the offensive by choosing to perform the Kapa O Pango, the most warlike and visually violent haka. All in the rather dark atmosphere of the Stade de France, whose lights were turned off for the occasion.

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Two different versions of the haka

During major competitions or big matches, New Zealanders are used to performing a variation of the traditional Ka Mate. Thanks to Derek Lardelli, an expert on Maori culture, they created their own haka, the Kapa O Pango, on the sidelines of a match against South Africa in 2005.

The Kapa O Pango choreography, led by a stunned Tana Umaga, begins with a knee and a fist on the ground and ends with the mime of a throat slitting. A very aggressive haka for a gala evening.