Wales are considering giving a response to the haka before the start of the Test against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium next week. When the two sides last met in Cardiff, two years ago, the All Blacks performed the war chant in their dressing-room as a protest after being told it would precede the playing of the Welsh national anthem.

Wales have given the All Blacks an assurance that the haka will next week follow the anthems but their New Zealand-born coach, Warren Gatland, is planning an answer in kind. "The best compliment you can pay to the haka is to respond with one of your own," he said. "I do not know if we will have time to plan a response properly but the haka is something the players will enjoy the experience of and the crowd will definitely want to see."

Gatland was on the New Zealand bench in Dublin 19 years ago when the Ireland captain Willie Anderson brought his team to face the haka virtually nose-to-nose with the All Blacks. "People thought that was being disrespectful but to us it was a fantastic response," said Gatland. "They stepped forward as a sign that they were there to meet the challenge and that they were not going to back down."

Munster are also devising a reply to the haka before they face the All Blacks at Thomond Park on Tuesday. "Back home it is not uncommon to haka back, which is probably the correct response," said the Heineken Cup holders' former New Zealand wing, Doug Howlett. "I have performed the haka many times before but I have never stood in front of it. The haka is now done for personal reasons and that has taken away the confrontational element, so it's up to the opposing team."

The 19-year old Cardiff Blues' wing Leigh Halfpenny is in line to face the All Blacks after making an impressive debut against South Africa last week, a performance which attracted the interest of clubs in England. The Blues have already started new contract talks with the player, who has made only seven starts for them since joining their academy from the Ospreys.

"We are well down the road in our discussions with Leigh and, as far as we are concerned, a new contract is virtually sorted," said the Blues' head coach, David Young. "We just have to finalise a few details. Leigh is an honourable person and I think he appreciates the opportunity he has been given at the Blues when nobody else would give one to him. He is a terrific prospect who still has a lot to learn and at the end of the day he wants to remain and we want him to stay."

Premier Rugby today ended Gatland's hope that he would have at least one of his two leading fit scrum-halves available to face Australia at the Millennium Stadium on November 29. Dwayne Peel and Gareth Cooper both play for clubs in England, Sale and Gloucester respectively, and, as the friendly against the Wallabies falls outside the International Rugby Board's official Test window, player release is not obligatory.

Sale told Wales they would not stand in Peel's way but Premier Rugby said its policy of non-release, which was agreed by all 12 Premiership clubs, would apply and that sides did not have the authority to make individual deals. With the grand slam scrum-half Mike Phillips injured, Gatland will have to rely on the Scarlets' Martin Roberts, who makes his international debut against Canada tonight.