The New Zealand All Blacks have accepted the South African rugby federation's apologies following a controversial disruption of the Haka before their Rugby Championship match in Johannesburg. On Saturday, fireworks and music interrupted the iconic Maori dance, prompting a swift apology from the South African federation.

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan stated that these interruptions were not seen as disrespectful. “Honestly, sometimes there’s a bit of chaos around the Haka,” he told New Zealand media. This traditional dance, which dates back to 1905, is a significant moment before each match, performed after the national anthems and just before kick-off.

The incidents at Ellis Park, attended by around 62,000 spectators, were attributed to difficulties in adhering to the schedule and a human error. Rian Oberholzer, president of SA Rugby, explained that a sound engineer mistakenly interpreted the crowd's applause as a cue to restart the music, interrupting the end of the Haka.

Oberholzer emphasized that this incident in no way reflects a lack of respect for the significance and history of the Haka. “We never intended to schedule anything that would coincide with such an iconic moment in a match against the All Blacks,” he stated.

Despite the disruption, South Africa won the match 31 to 27. The two teams will meet again in Cape Town on Sunday, promising another emotionally charged clash of rugby rivalry.