For many teams, facing the almighty haka is usually a marker that you are about to play one of the toughest games of your life. You expect fear to be widespread as you soak in a hugely intimidating sporting tradition. It takes a special character and some serious courage to challenge it.
Some fans revel in it, others fear for the fate of the challengers, but this moment was awe-inspiring.
It was the World Cup quarter final of 2007 and Cardiff was electrified with a knockout rugby atmosphere as France faced the All Blacks for a place in the final four.
And, instead of the French side facing the haka from their own 10m line, both teams assembled barely a yard from the half-way line as a remarkable piece of sporting theatre unfolded.
A star-studded line-up begins the haka as the likes of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Joe Rokocoko watch their opponents face up to them. France are visibly bouncing with energy. Arm in arm they stand within touching distance of the ear-splitting Kiwi battle cry. Sebastien Chabal, who is known as 'the caveman' stares into the souls of the New Zealanders and looks ravenous for the challenge.
His stare down is breathtaking. 113 kilograms of Les Bleus power, eyes wide with a burning desire for the challenge that is about to come. France's haka response has gone down as one of the best retaliations to the All Blacks' war dance.
The clip has been given a new lease of life on TikTok, and has done incredibly well on the video platform in recent weeks. The edit of this spectacular moment has raked in a whopping 22 million views and 2.7 million likes in just a few weeks. It remains one of the most watched rugby videos this year.
Usually a great haka response ends up with a drubbing for the challengers, but France went on to win the game 20-18, making the stare down with the Kiwis all that more sweet.
