Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua looking forward to fronting up to Black Ferns' haka
Facing up to the haka for any rugby player is one of the highlights of their international careers.
Equally, it is one of the most unnerving and Springbok Women's forward Lerato Makua is certainly anxious about the prospect fronting up to the traditional pre-match Maori war dance ahead of the clash against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.
'We've seen it (the haka) on TV and we don't know how it feels when they're doing it,' Makua told the media at UCT on Tuesday. 'We know the nerves are going to be there.
'It will be another experience that we've never experienced before. But we're looking forward to it.'
Makua should have nothing to worry about though. The Bulls Daisies utility forward, who hails from Mamelodi East Ext 5, has experienced much worse during a 16-month period she spent on the sidelines due to a long-term knee injury.
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The South African
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IOL News
2 hours ago
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Springbok Women run Black Ferns XV close in narrow defeat at Athlone Stadium
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Bok No 8 Aseza Hele charged over the line after the Black Ferns struggled to cope with a rolling maul from the lineout for the Bok Women's first points of the match. 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IOL News
14 hours ago
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WATCH: SA's Super Rugby departure a huge loss for New Zealand, says All Blacks icon Carlos Spencer
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Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Our generation was deprived of witnessing Solomons in his prime, which forced us to look elsewhere for heroes even as Apartheid succumbed to a new era in the early 1990s. This period ushered in the unification of the game, professionalism, and ultimately the inception of Super Rugby halfway through the decade. Despite the early morning starts Down Under, everyone would rise often before the sun had, for there was one figure from Down Under who captured the imagination of fans worldwide: Carlos Spencer. The proud Maori, doubled-down with the ink emblazoned on his chiseled-perfect chest, lit up the screens with all his creativity and X-factor that revolutionised the game and transformed the Auckland Blues into a domestic superpower. He was everything current Stormers and Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is and more, with the pass between the legs, double pump passes, knee kicks, reverse and behind-the-back passes and, of course, the banana kick. 'It was just about expressing myself, just enjoying it. I love the game, I love having fun, and having fun for me was really about it. I just love expressing myself and I just love creating stuff,' the All Black legend told Independent Media in an exclusive interview at SK Walmers Rugby Club this week. 'The luxury of having good players around me which allowed me to do that, but it's just that fun. I took to the game early, it started at a young age and it stuck with me right through my professional career. I enjoyed every minute of it.' Much time has passed since Spencer, affectionately known as 'The King', razzled and dazzled, running rings around defenders clutching at air whilst trying to catch up to the mercurial pivot. 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He's just one of those intelligent coaches that is innovative. He doesn't mind bringing something different to the attack. 'It's good for New Zealand rugby when you see coaches moving on and doing things for other countries. It's awesome.' Spencer, equally, has enjoyed a much-travelled post-playing career that has seen him coach the Men's game in New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, USA and soon in Ireland. However, his current role has seen him switch to Women's Rugby, where he works with his beloved Blues on the North Island and now also with the Black Ferns XV. It is the latter that has brought him to Cape Town for a two-match series against the Springbok Women's side, which kicks off at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, in preparation for their Rugby World Cup campaign in England next month. 'It's been the space I've been in for the last few years and I've really enjoyed it,' he said. 'I've been lucky enough to get involved with the Black Ferns 15, which has been good. 'I'm just here as one of the assistant coaches, looking after the attack in the back. We've brought a pretty young team over, so a really good experience, really exciting, great opportunity for some of our young girls.' The Black Ferns XV will have Hannah King running out in the No 10 jumper against the Boks at Athlone Stadium. Don't be surprised if the young pivot attempts an outrageous pass or cross-field kick. She'll only be following in the footsteps of the great King Carlos.
