You have to be 'ugly' to lead the haka, says All Black Liam Messam
Flanker says looks count when it comes to the traditional war cry before test matches
The haka may be the mythical war cry that New Zealand rugby players chant before international matches but according to flanker Liam Messam, the man who gets to lead it is decided by looks.
Messam, 29, has been bestowed with the honour in recent matches, taking over from the likes of hooker Keven Mealamu or scrumhalf Piri Weepu - who has not been selected for this tour.
And asked why he thought he was picked to lead the haka, Messam, who hopes to be asked once again tomorrow at the Stade de France against France, said his ugly features were as important as his Maori background.
"Hopefully, I'll be up there leading it but if not we've got some good leaders," he said. "You've got to write a CV and send it to [captain] Richie McCaw and he picks it from there," he joked.
"I'm not sure, I guess being Maori myself, that's our native people and being given the opportunity is a huge opportunity for me and my people to lead the haka.
"First off, you've got to be ugly. There's about 99 per cent of the boys that are ugly so we're in a good way there.
"Being confident and being able to express yourself and don't worry what other people think. New players to the haka maybe worry about what other people think but the uglier and scarier you are the better."