It was more iconic every ten years, but times change, and yes we haka can New Zealand now.
The haka is the ceremonial war dance the New Zealanders (and one bold Scots schoolboy) conduct ahead of rugby matches.
No not me but Mad Timmy Teague (the clue us in the nickname) who boasted to us that he too would do the Haka.
All Black Magic
So when Graeme Mourie’s all-conquering All Blacks arrived in Edinburgh Timmy practised his moves.
Before surprising everyone, not least us, by actually appearing with the New Zealanders before kick-off.
His punishment? In those more innocent days it was to be ejected from the ground before being allowed back in after the break.
And that was the real punishment as the All Blacks rolled over Scotland in the second half.
The time was that only Scottish rugby players, explorers and Highlanders cast out from their crofts went to NZ.
But now it is the ultimate long-haul trip, now back on our schedule.
The Long White Cloud
Our friends in the Land of the Long White Cloud even went the extra mile by taking us all out there.
Without leaving our bedrooms through the magic of Zoom.
It is the first of a four-part video series of trips to NZ (Auckland and New Zealand) which will run through December.
Get out there
Of course there is nothing like actually getting out there.
Easier, of course, if you’re in the vicinity, returning to the UK by ship.
Which regular readers will know was the Scary One’s mode of transport back in the day.
The rest of us can only dream.
Or check out the many airlines who take us there… and I’d recommend my old friends Flight Centre to do the heavy lifting.
While I can always go in style (with pitstops) on the big ship with my Princess.
Yea we Haka can New Zealand. And particularly at the The All Blacks Experience in Auckland.
And as a postscript, the New Zealanders picked out some lucky winners to have 100 plants put down in their islands as part of our eco fightback to put new life back into our planet.
Long Live the Land of the Long White Cloud.
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