My first Haka

‘Twas Ellis Park in eighty six
my mate had done us proud,
four seats, front row, behind the sticks
a seventy thousand crowd.

The Cavaliers against the Boks
their union had affirmed
we were not to call them All Blacks
nor wear the silver fern.

The tour indeed was nervy stuff
this was the last of four
would Dalton’s men be good enough
to earn a series draw?

No Haka were allowed back then
but before the start this day
Jock Hobbs lined up his merry men
and performed it any way

We cheered, stood and applauded
those fifteen men in black
they honoured us, some tears were shed
we gave respect right back

And in the highveld sun that day
politics kicked into touch
we saw a Springbok victory
but not by very much.