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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Dylan James

Most watched rugby video ever sees 67 million people stunned by All Blacks haka response

Think of the greatest moments in rugby. Gareth Edwards' try vs the All Blacks and Jonny Wilkinson's World Cup match-winner in '03 will be up there, but very few things compete with the aura of the All Blacks haka.

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic and revered traditions in sport, this video of the All Blacks performing the ritual back in 2011 at the Rugby World Cup Final has eclipsed 67 million views on YouTube.

The haka is performed by an iconic team, including Kieran Read, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Richie McCaw. You cannot take your eyes away from the video, and this isn't only because of the haka itself.

Read next: 'Best rugby try ever' watched by over 5 million people as crowd left in stitches

The All Blacks' opponents, France, challenge the New Zealanders by forming an arrow shape - the one England copied in the 2019 World Cup. Once their arrow is formed, tensions rise as Piri Weepu screams out the 'Ka Mate' rendition of haka. The tension is simply unbelievable.

To their surprise, Les Bleus march towards them, arm in arm. The legendary Thierry Dusautoir stares into the souls of the most feared team in rugby history. It is sporting theatre from another planet.

The match ended up being the tightest game in World Cup Final history, with the All Blacks winning 8-7.

When you think about rugby's greatest ever moments, it's easy to come back to mind-boggling tries, colossal tackles or dazzling runs. However, this iconic haka clip has firmly established its place in rugby's Hall Of Fame.

Wales, of course, produced their own unbelievable hakla response in 2008, a stand-off that remains one of the greatest moments ever witnessed at the Principality Stadium. You can read the inside story of how that came about here.

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