French rugby team's defiant response to haka

The French under-20s rugby team has refused to back down after the traditional pre-game war dance by the baby All Blacks.

While other sides often appear intimidated and even rattled after an intense haka, the French team were out to prove a point at the world under-20s championships, staring down their opponents for over 80 seconds.

In turn the All Blacks under-20s team also refused to back down, forcing the referee to intervene and demand both captains break the intense face off.

It was a gutsy move from the French to show they weren't intimidated by their more fancied opponents, however it didn't pay off on the field as they went down 39-26 in the semi-final clash.

New Zealand will now face the English under-20s in the final of the competition.

This incident comes after the haha was once again in the spotlight recently during the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

Commentators slammed the haka performed by the Auckland Blues as being disrespectful in the wake of the London terror attacks.

James Corrigan, a writer from The Telegraph in London, initiated the debate saying the throat slitting gesture used by the Blues players during the war dance was "tasteless".

Check their haka out here.

"Holding a minute's silence for the victims of the Manchester bomb and the London knife attacks, and then performing a tribal dance which concludes with a collection of throat-slitting gestures in the direction of the British and Irish opposition," Corrigan writes.

"At best it could be described as inappropriate."

The article provoked fierce debate online, with many Twitter users defending the Blues' haka.

BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter meanwhile agreed with Corrigan's sentiment, saying on Twitter, "this is surely not a week for throat-slitting gestures".