LONDON: New Zealand coach Scott Robertson defended his team’s pre-match haka after England prop Joe Marler stoked tension ahead of Saturday’s clash at Twickenham by saying it was “ridiculous and needs to be removed”.

Marler, who sat out Saturday’s match and left England’s camp for personal reasons, posted his comments on social media on Tuesday, briefly deleting his account and then reinstating it, saying he had been trying to “stir up interest” .

Asked about the comments after naming his team on Thursday, Robertson said: “I know Joe. I wonder if he would have liked to have expressed himself a little better about that.

“The haka for us is a custom. It’s part of who we are, our DNA. You can welcome someone, it’s for celebrations, for joy and also for a challenge, and we use it as a challenge.

“We think it’s a great rugby tradition, as it is for all Pacific nations,” Robertson added. “It honors where they come from. It’s not just about the All Blacks, it’s about us as a country. It means a lot to us.”

World Rugby regulations limit how close rival teams can be when facing the haka, and England were fined for getting too close before the 2019 World Cup semi-final in Japan, as was France before the 2019 World Cup final. 2011 in New Zealand.

Asked if he felt teams should be able to respond to the challenge on the field, Robertson said: “Obviously, it’s a matter of respect.

“The audience enjoys it, right? It’s a special occasion. Some applaud, others put a plane on top. Whatever it is, there’s a lot of meaning behind it and it has to be meaningful and respectful.”

Robertson described England’s response in 2019 as “incredible and done with respect” and home captain Jamie George said he disagreed with Marler’s view when asked for his opinion on Thursday.

“I really enjoy him, I enjoyed watching him, I love his story and I’ve been lucky enough to play him a few times,” the hooker said.

“I understand Maori and New Zealand culture quite well. I have friends from the Pacific Islands who have explained to me what it is about, which is a challenge you set yourself. It’s a brilliant part of the Party and a great show. “

Twickenham crowds traditionally try to drown out the haka war cries with a rendition of their anthem “Swing Low” and George predicted the latest exchange would only contribute to a “brilliant atmosphere” on Saturday.

“I guess he (Marler) has pushed the bear a little bit,” he said, adding when asked if England had something up their sleeve this time: “We’ll talk about it a little bit, but yeah, there might be something.” be something.”