SYDNEY - Australians will "hammer the haka" at tomorrow night's rugby test with a long blast of Waltzing Matilda.
After their haka, normally the final act before kickoff, the All Blacks will have to cool their heels while balladeer John Williamson belts out the Aussie favourite to the expected105,000 crowd at the Bledisloe Cup test.
The crowd's lively response to the song at Stadium Australia last year before the All Blacks lost 7-28 to the Wallabies convinced rugby officials it had to be used again.
Both national anthems will be sung, then Welsh singing star Bryn Terfel will lead the crowd through the World In Union song made famous by Kiri Te Kanawa at the 1991 World Cup.
The All Blacks will then perform the haka before Williamson breaks into Waltzing Matilda.
"It is a salient observation," an Australian Rugby Union official accepted yesterday when asked if Williamson's singing was designed to counter the haka. "It is a useful tool."
In South Africa early yesterday, the Mexican softball side sang and somersaulted in response to New Zealand's haka at the world championships. New Zealand beat Mexico 7-0.
