Former All Blacks and Munster full-back Christian Cullen has joined in the defence of New Zealand’s haka before the Test defeat by Ireland, after allegations the ceremonial dance disrespected the late Anthony Foley.

The Ireland team formed a figure of eight on the pitch as they faced the Haka, in honour of the number eight jersey Foley wore throughout his career.

Writing in his ESPN Scrum column, former All Black prop Craig Dowd took issue with New Zealand’s selection of haka.

“I have to say I watched the Haka and cringed.

“Someone didn’t do their homework in the All Blacks camp. Knowing a little bit about the Irish mentality and having had a 64-Test cap veteran and ex-Munster coach Anthony Foley die recently, with all the players wearing black armbands and having a moment’s silence for him before the game, and knowing what that meant to the Irish team and the public, I thought pulling out the Kapa O Pango haka was disrespectful.”

The Kapa o Pango haka concludes with what looks like a “throat slitting” gesture by the participants and Dowd felt the squad should have chosen another in the circumstances.

“I’ve been to funerals and you do the Ka Mate haka to honour a warrior and it is different to doing the battle cry, or war cry, of Kapa O Pango.”

However, Cullen, who played with Foley at Munster, dismissed Dowd’s allegation, countering that the choice of haka was more likely a tribute.

Speaking on New Zealand rugby show The Breakdown, Cullen said: “That’s a mark of respect for the Irish, for Axel Foley. They bring it out for special occasions.”

Fellow pundit Scotty Stevenson described Dowd’s theory as “factually incorrect.”

“A lot of hakas have weapon actions in them, Kapa O Pango doesn’t, simply because it is ceremonial and not a war challenge, so therefore, if you look at that column, the issue that I have is that it’s factually incorrect, what he’s saying, and he’s having a spray at something that is actually, in it’s entirety, wrong.”