Kieran Read began his work by adding some extra heat to the haka and finished it by asking his All Blacks to take a bow.
All Blacks captain and No 8 Read joined TJ Perenara in leading the Kapo o Pango version of the pre-match challenge, rather than stationing himself at the head of the arrowhead formation prior to the 23-13 victory over the Springboks in the first World Cup pool game in Yokohama.
The sight of Read and Perenara working in tandem proved popular with the majority of the crowd that numbered around 63,000, although a section of Springboks supporters did their best to drown out the war cry.
Read, having begun the haka in the middle of his team-mates, slowly walked towards the Springboks before taking his usual position at the front where he could eyeball his opponents.
It was something we talked about as leaders, and what we wanted to do as a team Read says.
Given the win means the All Blacks are expected to top Pool B, barring a shock loss to Canada, Namibia or Italy in their remaining pool games, the mood among their supporters at the ground and back in New Zealand couldn’t have been better.
