RUGBY DIGEST:HOW SHOULD a team face the haka? Clive Woodward clearly got it wrong. The Australians have ignored it in the past to purposely enrage them.
Ali Williams told us earlier this week that staring them down merely ignites their anger. The Willie Anderson tactic back in 1989 was entertaining but the Irish pack paid a hefty price.
An Adidas gig in Westmanstown yesterday gathered a gaggle of GAA stars, some All Blacks and some Munster players set to face a New Zealand XV at Thomond Park next Tuesday.
Doug Howlett being the main attraction. The record try scorer for New Zealand is in a strange position this week but on the haka subject he left it open for the three Kiwi's Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi and himself to face the haka with a haka.
Would this not be an insult? "No, it wouldn't.
"It will be an interesting one. I've performed it many a time (in 56 Tests) but never been in front of it. I might have to consult our resident Maori Rua Tipoki and come up with the correct response.
"It depends how you have been brought up and your understanding of the Maori culture and haka really. Back home it is not uncommon to haka back, probably the correct response. Teams have faced us in a line, other teams carry on with their warm up Again, it is personal to the team."
Is it an insult to ignore? "The way the haka is for us now, the All Blacks, it's done for personal reasons. That takes away the confrontational element with the opposition."
There are other matters to attend to before the tourist decamp to Limerick. We asked Howlett if this Ireland team can finally end the 21-game losing run.
"I think it will be a tough game, actually. I feel the All Blacks will come out on top but they will have to work on the result."
And what about team-mates Keith Earls and Tomás O'Leary, two players he has seen first hand mature into Test players.
"Keith always had that ability to spot a gap and take it. He has come on in leaps and bounds. It's good to see him in the framework because I feel what Irish rugby needs is a game breaker. Someone like Keith and Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney. They've got three good players coming through. Declan (Kidney) has obviously backed Tomás. He is a competitive little man and he certainly will die wondering come Saturday."
• ULSTER 62, PORTUGAL 6:Ulster enjoyed the perfect workout by scoring 10 tries against minnows Portugal at Ravenhill last night.
The result was never in doubt from the third minute when centre Darren Cave opened the scoring. Cave was the star of the show, adding another three tries, as Ulster cut loose against the side ranked 22nd in the world.
Fijian winger Timoci Nagusa is in a rich vein of scoring form and he went over in each half with his second try particularly eye-catching as he showed great pace to collect his own chip.
Left winger Mark McCrea also added a brace of tries, his first coming from an incept on the half way line. There were first Ulster tries for hooker Neil Hanna and centre Ian Whitten while outhalf Perdo Cabral kicked two penalties for Portugal.
