All Blacks Accept Apology from South Africa

The All Blacks have accepted an apology from the South African Rugby Union after a series of disruptions—including music, fireworks, and a jet fly-over—interfered with the performance of their Haka before a Test match at Ellis Park. The South African Rugby Union acknowledged the chaos, attributing it to timing errors made by a sound engineer who mistakenly believed the Haka had concluded. All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan emphasized that the disruptions were not viewed as disrespectful, noting that the South African players maintained their respect during the performance. The match ended with South Africa winning 31-27, further solidifying their lead in the Rugby Championship. Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, assured that such mistakes would be avoided in future encounters. The two teams are set to meet again in Cape Town on Saturday.