The All Blacks will perform their traditional haka Ka Mate ahead of Saturday's test against Ireland here but insist it isn't because of pressure from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).
Controversy over their second haka introduced last year, Kapo O Pango, has resurfaced via public complaints late last year and into this year over its aggressive nature. It climaxes with a throat-slitting gesture.
It has forced the NZRU to launch a review into whether the new haka needs to change or if the complaints are only from a minority.
Until the review is completed, NZRU chief executive Chris Moller said his preference was that the All Blacks only perform Ka Mate and he had conveyed that to them.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand said the team had practised both haka this week but had reached a decision to use Ka Mate because they had been together for such a short time.
Leading players made the decision in conjunction with team management and Derek Lardelli, who helped develop the new haka last year.
"It's solely on the fact that we've got two guys training up to lead the haka, which is a tough job to follow after (retired captain) Tana Umaga. Tana did a magnificent job and it's taking them a while to get their timing right," Shand said.
"You've got to be respectful of a haka like Ka Mate, it's a very historic haka and we want to do it very well.
"We've got enough to do this week without having to worry about that. The haka is 20 seconds prior to an 80 minute game so we can't just put our focus entirely on that."
Kapa O Pango was generally well received when performed for the first time against South Africa in Dunedin last August.
However, its second rendition three months later before the test against England at Twickenham was greeted with boos and drew condemnation as being intimidatory from sections of the British media and public.
Umaga said after that match that thought may need to be given to altering Kapa O Pango.
"I suppose so, and that's maybe something we'll have to look at. We didn't really think it would cause as much reaction," he said.
Lardelli said last year that the running of the thumb across the throat was misunderstood in the context of the haka.
"Playing rugby at this level, with this intensity, is the cutting edge of sport," he said.
"The players are on the knife edge. They are gladiators in the arena. If they win they are heroes, if they lose they are taken apart."
Moller said there had been no pressure from overseas unions and that the complaints had come from members of the public.
He wouldn't quantify the level of objection and nor would he say how long the review may take but he did say it had been planned since the start of this year.
Shand would continue to consult the team while the NZRU would approach various sectors of Maoridom.
"It wouldn't surprise me if there are differences of view," Moller said.
"There is a concern out there from some people, I don't know whether that's a majority or a minority, we certainly know the views of the team, having developed it with Derek. It's very personal to them.
"The reaction in Dunedin by the spectators and the broadcast audience was outstanding.
"We're not necessarily going to change it."
Moller said there had been no negative feedback to the haka from sponsors.
NZPA