Rugby World Cup 2019: Was Irish singing over All Blacks haka really that bad?

All Blacks fans have howled their outrage over Irish fans singing over the New Zealand haka before their Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. 

But Newshub presenter Mike McRoberts insists the incident has been blown out of proportion. 

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As the All Blacks performed 'Kapa O Pango' at Tokyo Stadium, Irish spectators launched into the traditional folk song 'The Fields of Athenry'.

While many disagreed with the tactics on social media, the All Blacks are used to far worse, especially when they play away from New Zealand. 

Last year, Springboks fans drowned out the haka in Pretoria, the same happened against England at Twickenham and there were very vocal fans in Dublin as well. 

Saturday's antics followed a September column by Irish sportswriter Ewan MacKenna, calling for World Rugby to ban the haka. He claimed the intimidating tradition gave the All Blacks an "unfair advantage". 

But McRoberts felt the singing added to the occasion, reflected that it was far worse when the All Blacks played South Africa in their tournament opener. 

"I know people have been talking about it, but when we played against South Africa earlier in the tournament, it was far worse," he told The AM Show. "The South African supporters were singing much louder. 

"I haven't got a problem with it, the All Blacks don't have a problem with it. They just went about their business and did the haka like normal.

"It adds to the colour and excitement of the game." 

After the All Blacks dismantled Ireland 46-14, MacKenna took to Twitter, calling out New Zealand for its supposed "neediness and insecurity".

"On a side note, is it geographic isolation or what, that for all their talent, the neediness and insecurity ooze in record levels from New Zealand," MacKenna wrote. "They could rob your house and still expect a blow job on the way out the door."

An AM Show poll asked the public if the haka gives the All Blacks an unfair advantage and 80 percent of voters said no. 

Join us at 10pm Saturday for live updates of all the All Blacks v England Rugby World Cup semi-final.

Newshub.