VIDEO. Haka interrupted due to “human error”: All Blacks accept South Africans' apologies

La Haka des All Blacks : une image forte des traditions maoris. MAXPPP – KIM LUDBROOK

La Fédération des Springboks a présenté ses excuses.

The New Zealand All Blacks accepted an apology from South Africa on Tuesday after the haka was disrupted before the two countries' Rugby Championship match in Johannesburg on Saturday. The South African Rugby Union has written to its New Zealand counterpart to apologise after fireworks and music disrupted the end of the Maori dance.

The All Blacks, meanwhile, said the disruptions were not taken as a sign of disrespect. “In all fairness, sometimes there is a bit of chaos,” around the Haka, All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan told New Zealand media in Cape Town.

Before each match, New Zealand players perform the haka, a traditional Maori warrior dance involving heavy chest or thigh blows at their opponents. The haka, which dates back to the “Original” All Blacks' first tour of Europe in 1905, is performed after the national anthems and just before the match kicks off.

A human error

The men in black's choreography is generally anticipated and respected by the public, but the final moments of the haka at Ellis Park on Saturday were mixed with music, fireworks and a jetliner flying over the stadium. The incidents “occurred due to difficulties in adhering to the schedule and simple human error”, SA Rugby chairman Rian Oberholzer said in a statement.

A sound engineer misinterpreted the applause from the 62,000 or so spectators as a signal that the haka was over and restarted the music, he said. “It was never our intention to schedule something to coincide with such an iconic moment in a game against the All Blacks,”, Oberholzer added. “This unfortunate incident in no way represents a lack of respect by South African rugby for the importance and history of the haka,”, he stressed.

South Africa won 31-27. The two teams meet again in Cape Town on Sunday.