Wallabies coach fires back at Rieko Ioane over haka 'disrespect' sledge
SPOTLIGHT: Dave Rennie has lit the fuse ahead of the Rugby Championship finale.
The Wallabies head coach called out All Blacks star Reiko Ioane for trash-talking his players at the end of last weekend’s clash in Melbourne.
Australia suffered a heartbreaking 37-39 defeat after a try by Jordie Barrett at the death.
“Rieko Ioane had a lot to say to our boys after the final try, mouthing off at Folau Fainga’a around disrespecting the haka,” Rennie said.
“Which is a bit odd because as New Zealanders would know, when a team does a haka you respond with a haka.
“We don’t have the luxury of having a haka so our response is [to get] in the boomerang shape and to move forward.
“They’ve thrown down a challenge and we’re accepting it.”
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#TeamAnnouncement: Dave Rennie has revealed his team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship finale 👇#RugbyChampionship #NewZealand #AllBlacks #Australia #Wallabies #NZLvAUS https://t.co/0EkQezQ2qu
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 22, 2022
Rennie said the Wallabies would continue to confront the haka, a Maori custom traditionally performed when two tribes met.
“Is the expectation that we just stand there, they throw a challenge at us and we do nothing? Just take it?” he asked.
“We think it’s a very respectful way of responding, and it’s unique to us because of the boomerang shape. We won’t be stopping that.”
#TeamAnnouncement: Ian Foster has made some big changes to his team for Saturday’s finale. 👇#RugbyChampionship #NewZealand #AllBlacks #Australia #Wallabies #NZLvAUS https://t.co/jeBvM4ZRhs
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 22, 2022
