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'Incredible': England 'Flying V' Haka response delights rugby fans

Andrew Reid

England answered the challenge of New Zealand's Haka head-on, with a curious new tactic in their World Cup semi-final in Yokohama.

Irish fans sparked controversy in their side's quarter-final hammering by the Kiwis after bursting out in song during the traditional war dance.

While there was no repeat of that from English fans in Saturday night's semi-final, the players themselves decided to shake things up.

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It's common practice for the opposition team to station themselves on one side of the halfway line while the All Blacks go about their business in the other half.

England adopted a new response to the New Zealand Haka.
England's Haka response delighted rugby fans. Pic: Fox Sports/Getty

However, England took an unorthodox approach, perhaps borrowing a manoeuvre from cult kids' film classic The Mighty Ducks by lining up in a 'V' formation.

Some of the English players even crept well in front of the halfway line, inching towards their Kiwi rivals in their own form of intimidation.

Viewers absolutely loved the stand-off between the teams, taking to social media to express their delight.

England's mind games also had the desired effect when the match got underway as coach Eddie Jones' men got off to a blistering start.

Manu Tuilagi capitalised from a driving early England foray forward, with a simple pick-and-go try to open the scoring after two minutes.

Owen Farrell added the extras to give England a 7-0 lead.

The English looked to have doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when Sam Underhill burst through to score to the side of the posts.

However, England flanker Tom Curry was penalised for obstructing the Kiwi tacklers, as the TMO overruled referee Nigel Owens' original decision.

Cruelly for their fans, England were denied another try early in the second half after Ben Youngs scurried over from a ruck near the try line.

Owens again went to the TMO which chalked the try off after it was ruled that the English lost the ball forward in the ruck, before the try was scored.

Relentless English pressure and the boot of George Ford put the men in white 13-0 up with 30 minutes to play.