A rugby miscellany, compiled by JOHNNY WATTERSON

Going to an All Blacks show without  the haka just isn't the same

SO THE All Blacks have threatened to do their haka in the Millennium Stadium dressingroom again, which strikes us as pretty wet indeed.

Let’s hope any criticism from media commentators in Ireland won’t lock one of the most colourful aspects of international rugby into their Aviva Stadium dressingroom.

The relevance of the haka for the public has always seemed to be its entertainment value and supporters enjoy watching it.

Ask the IRFU, WRU and RFU how many international tickets for such matches are sold to people who are not members of rugby clubs and you will be surprised. The people who watch Test matches are not the same people who watch AIL.

“We are quite happy to do it in the changing room,” said New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith.

“I think people enjoy it as a spectacle, but I’m certainly quite happy to do it in the changing room if that’s what people want. I’m not being facetious, but we would still do it for ourselves. We would do it to draw mana from it as a tradition.”

Here’s an idea.

Put the opposition in the changing room and the haka on the pitch.

That might please the curmudgeons.

Boks need extra room

THE Springboks touched down yesterday in Dublin via London after 25 hours of travelling.

But the squad hit Heathrow in two aircraft.

This wasn’t because they have a royal family syndrome, where the queen travels separately from the first heir to the throne, but because there were not enough business class seats to accommodate the squad.

There are 36 business class seats but 48 in the travelling South African squad.

Try sitting “The Beast” of 112kg between the 2.01m captain Victor Matfield and 2.02m Bakkies Botha down in steerage.

No, that doesn’t work.

Tickets still available at IRFU website and offices

THERE are around 2,500 paired tickets remaining for sale for tomorrow’s match against the Springboks, which can still be bought on the IRFU website.

Tickets can also be bought at the IRFU offices at 10-12 Lansdowne Road up until an hour before the match begins in Aviva Stadium.

Prices for the Springbok/Samoa package range from €60 for school children to €75 for restricted view and €150 for the normal package.

South African coach Peter de Villiers was asked what he thought of the world champions playing in a stadium which may not full.

“We don’t turn a blind eye to the real world out there,” said the coach. “If they can’t make it, that’s a pity.”

Listen to the ref from the comfort of your couch

SOME supporters have had experience of listening to what was called Ref Link in previous years, which in rugby can be valuable if you wish to know why decisions are being made on the pitch.

Now fans can purchase Ref Talk for the Guinness series, which will allow them to hear all of the ref’s calls as they happen.

Available for the Tests against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina, Ref Talk, which will continue to be sold on match day at the stadium, will also be available as an app on iTunes and to stream at www.bethedifference.ie.

It means supporters all over the world and in their sitting rooms in Ireland will be able to hear exactly what the players hear from the referee.

The app can be downloaded now from the iTunes store for €1.59, and is a combined package for all three games.

Customers who wish to listen online at www.bethedifference.ie will be able to tune in to the South Africa game free of charge, with the New Zealand and Argentina games costing €2.50 each.