It’s one of the most iconic moments in rugby history and has the views to prove it
14:50, 08 Sep 2025Updated 14:54, 08 Sep 2025
This was the moment France marched towards the All Blacks. (Image: World Rugby)
Last weekend saw two memorable renditions of the haka play out in the rugby world. First, it was All Blacks prior to their clash against South Africa in The Rugby Championship, which was particularly stirring, and then, the Black Ferns were stared down and marched on by Ireland in the World Cup.
In the All Blacks’ version, it was captain Ardie Savea, earning his 100th cap, who set the tone by charging out into Eden Park, fired up to 110%. The haka that followed was exceptional in the dimmed lighting, with the remaining light laser-focused on the New Zealand players. That haka was to set the tone, with Scott Robertson’s team emerging victorious over their old enemy.
In the World Cup, Ireland walked towards the Black Ferns and locked on with tense eye contact. The Ferns stood their ground in the wake of the challenge. The supporters inside Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium responded by producing an incredible atmosphere, cheering and clapping as the players on both sides refused to budge.
The haka has, therefore, been a hot topic in the last few days, but neither of those compare to a haka moment from 2011, which produced the most-watched rugby video of all time on YouTube.
It’s the World Cup final, New Zealand v France at Eden Park. The French had made their way there after defeating Wales 9-8 in a now-infamous game in Welsh rugby, where Wales skipper Sam Warburton was red-carded for a tackle on Vincent Clerc.
New Zealand had swatted aside Australia in the semi-finals, and this tournament was to kick-start a period of dominance for the iconic Test team. The New Zealand side that played between 2011 and 2015 are now often referred to as the greatest ever in the modern era, alongside the current Springboks.
So, the stage was set. Two international rugby titans were to lock horns at the home of New Zealand rugby.
It was a Kiwi side littered with household names – Ma’a Nonu, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and more. For France, they boasted the likes of legendary flanker Thierry Dusatoir, along with the iconic Morgan Parra and big man Imanol Harinordoquy.
In anticipation of the haka, France formed a V-shape to begin their challenge to the traditional Maori war dance, and spear-heading the shape was skipper Dusatoir.
Haka leader Piri Weepu orchestrated the ritual, turning Eden Park into a battleground before a ball was kicked. He marched with an aura of primal aggression as France fronted up in their shape.
Having taken a knee for the first part of the Kapa o Pango haka, intensity rose as Kiwi players bared their tongues and slapped their knees. In the midst of the chaos, cameras switched to Dusatoir, who began to march his men towards the All Blacks.
They marched quickly, taking up a place on the halfway line, just 10 metres in front of their opponents. The atmosphere stirred inside the ground as the New Zealand players continued.
Undeterred by the atmosphere or pack of screaming men in front of them, Dusatoir marched past the halfway line with his players, and in that moment, the ground became more of a Coliseum than a rugby field.
Once the haka finished, there was a brief moment to exchange final glances before Dusatoir turned on his heels and motioned for his players to ready for kick-off.
Check out the clip below.
The famous French challenge of the haka
YouTube Shorts aside, this is the most-viewed video on the platform, with over 83 million.
The game itself was one of the most attritional and hard-fought games in World Cup history, with the All Blacks winning 8-7. New Zealand replacement Stephen Donald kicked the winning penalty and instantly etched his name into history.
France were later fined £2,500 by World Rugby for their challenge to the Maori call-to-arms.