Matt Dawson disappointed by England's response to the Haka before All Blacks clash

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The haka, a powerful Maori war dance, has always ignited passionate debates, and with Joe Marler absent from the match—following his controversial calls for the dance to be banned—Dawson’s comments add yet another layer to the discussion

In the wake of Marler's remarks, which he later apologised for, he acknowledged that he could have communicated his thoughts more effectively. However, the drama doesn’t stop there! On Saturday, while the England squad approached the halfway line, they chose not to cross it, opting instead to respect the haka as the All Blacks set the tone for the match.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Dawson urged England to throw caution to the wind. “What’s the fine? £2,000? Go on England, get over the halfway line and go nose to nose!” he exclaimed. “I think we’d all have chipped in a fiver for that!” A cheeky nod to the spirit of competition, Dawson’s comments reflect a desire for a more confrontational stance against the haka, sparking discussions about respect and rivalry in rugby.

The debate rages on: should teams challenge the status quo, or is respect the name of the game?

Guardian 5/10: "Back from calf injury and gassed by Tele’a for first try. Embraced the blitz defence but beaten by Jordan too easily as well."

Telegraph 5/10: "Brutally targeted by the All Blacks for their opening tries by Tele’a and Jordan. Rule of thumb: don’t leave your prop exposed against All Black outside backs."

Guardian 5/10: "First start at 32 and looked nervous, caught out at one ruck on his own 22 and charged down. Settled thereafter but not the statement showing he’d have liked."

Guardian 5/10: "Handling a bit shaky under the high ball early on but that improved. Not much of chance to show what he can do with the ball."

Telegraph 5/10: "A disappointing showing. His high-ball work is usually his calling card but was very poor here, helping New Zealand to dominate the early aerial exchanges."

Planet Rugby 5/10: "Not a great deal to say for a player who had a lot to deal with in Mark Tele’a and failed to really stamp his mark on the game."

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Conceded an early scrum penalty which eventually resulted in Scotland’s first try of the match. Had a tough time at scrum time, which was part of Fiji’s undoing in an ill-disciplined affair."

Rugby Pass 3/10: "One of the All Blacks best this year finally had on off day. An ankle tap on Maro Itoje helped save a bad situation in the first half.

"Took a massive shot from Cunningham-South and spilt the ball, the All Blacks conceded a penalty from the scrum. Dropped the pass with an open line ahead on what was probably a forward pass from Sititi, but nonetheless a possible try scoring moment. Pinged right on half-time for side maul entry. Off at 41."

Telegraph 5/10: "Received a thunderous welcome from Cunningham-South in the first half and spilled a Sititi pass which did ask too much of him. Limped off a minute into the second half.

Planet Rugby 5/10: "New Zealand had their lineout wobbles, while Vaa’i struggled to put it about physically. The lock also dropped a ball which he should have held with the tryline in his sight. "

Rugby is a sport of grit, skill, and resilience, and it’s the players who endure season after season, test after test, who embody these qualities best. Today, we’re counting down the top 100 men’s capped players in rugby history – athletes whose dedication to their teams has etched their names into the record books.

From powerhouse props to fleet-footed wings, these players have amassed an astonishing number of caps, representing their countries time and again on the world’s biggest stage. Whether they’ve thrilled fans with dazzling runs, anchored the scrum, or inspired with steadfast leadership, each has contributed to the legacy of rugby in unforgettable ways.