New Zealand coach Scott Robertson says England prop Joe Marler could have chosen his words better when he called for the All Blacks’ haka to be “binned”.
Marler, 34, called the haka – a pre-match ritual challenge – “ridiculous” in a post on X, before deactivating his account, reactivating it and claiming he was “just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture”.
“I know Joe,” said Robertson.
“I wonder if he wished he could have articulated himself a little bit better on that.
“The haka for us is a custom. It is part of who we are, it’s our DNA. It is not just about the All Blacks, it is about us as a country. It means a lot to us.”
Robertson admitted Marler’s post was discussed among his players.
“The boys are aware of it,” he added.
“We don’t use it as such to say, ‘this is what has been said and it’s disrespectful’. Especially in this regard, because it has happened before. But we will discuss it and decide how we deal with it respectfully.”
Marler was criticised by various political and cultural figures in New Zealand, adding to the attention around a tour that will include the latest instalment of the All Blacks’ recent and occasionally heated rivalry with Ireland.
Assistant England coach Kevin Sinfield, who confirmed that Marler had left the team camp for personal reasons before posting his initial comments, said he did not agree with the prop.
“I faced the haka as a player and I faced it as a coach in the summer and both times have been really really special,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I think it is an important part of this fixture and you will see 82,000 people on Saturday who cannot wait to see it and I will be one of them.
“But the funny thing is, there is all the chat before and afterwards but it is a very little part of what goes on on the field. The players dictate what happens out there.”