lenister games in lansdowne

spanner

just looking that the lenister v bath match is to be played in lansdowne,
i am begining to get a little annoyed at the irfu for doing this so early in the season, i can understand the need to have a big stadium for the semi finals and quarters of the competion, they do need the money but i went to one of them games and there was no atmosphere at it at all. we need to play as many home games as possible in donnybrook, its the home pitch and the best place to get a crowd. maybe it might need developing

GreenHell

Donnybrook is a bit small and god knows the IRFU needs every penny it can get its hands on. Drafting in AIL players to cover for internationals while at training camps is an expensive business ya know....

Odds on Leinster branch will to jack all promotion for the game and miss out on the chance to get a handy crowd at the game.

uberwolf

well I'll be there with my bells on

RuggieBear

uberwolf wrote:

well I'll be there with my bells on

ditto....can't wait!!!

Trojan

We had 13k in Lansdowne last night, about 1.5-2k of them Bath fans I'd guess roughly. Wasn't too bad, the Leinster supporters found their voices a couple of times - I think they're getting the message!

Of course, I was extremely proudly wearing my Connacht jumper

RuggieBear

i think that figure is way to low....i'd say there were at least another 2000 on top of that including the season ticket holders who are never included in these totals.....

shouted myself hoarse....

daveirl

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RuggieBear

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

you bet against Leinster....!??? why i oughta....!!!???

I didn't expect to win tbh...but Bath were pretty poor while our outside backs were crap and BOD better stop the bloody drinking and nightlife, coz at the moment he is not firing at all....

BolBill

Never a try by D'Arcy but who cares, we WON !!!!!

uberwolf

I was conviced the crowd was bigger than that reported.

A thought in refernce to teh atmos in general at Leinster matches. I saw a news report re: munster heinoTM games was that atmos was poor due to corporate crowd and they only responded when the team were doing well, whilst traditionally the crowd lifted teh team if needs be. I can't see the Leinster crowd lifting the team, if we shipped an early score it'd be down to myself and ten others to try and lift them. Any thoughts on what could be done?

RuggieBear

uberwolf wrote:

I was conviced the crowd was bigger than that reported.

A thought in refernce to teh atmos in general at Leinster matches. I saw a news report re: munster heinoTM games was that atmos was poor due to corporate crowd and they only responded when the team were doing well, whilst traditionally the crowd lifted teh team if needs be. I can't see the Leinster crowd lifting the team, if we shipped an early score it'd be down to myself and ten others to try and lift them. Any thoughts on what could be done?

It's a pickle alright.....My throat is still killing me! Think we have to identify a particular song or chant that people can get behind!!! The only one i know is
"C'Mon Leeeeeeinsteeeeer"
but pretty difficult for a couple of thousand people to chant that at the same time.

Trojan

It was unquestionably a try by Darcy, ignoring the forward pass, the crossing, and the lack of touchdown of course

(admittedly I haven't seen a replay, although I was on the south terrace near that corner).

Leinster need to do something... you had us "neutrals" in the crowd cheering you on, possibly louder than some of your own contingent.

Maybe you need to get Phil Coulter on the case

uberwolf

Trojan wrote:

Of course, I was extremely proudly wearing my Connacht jumper

See you friday so

RuggieBear

Trojan wrote:

Maybe you need to get Phil Coulter on the case

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, i was in that corner of the S. Terrace, as well, and i thought they were going back to the video ref to look at the blatent crossing!!! (altho the vidref is only allowed to check the grounding, i've seen it happen).

I thought the crowd was ok.....plenty of noisy booing of the ref's decisions and some good chants of leinster every now and again....problem is that it then goes deathly silent for a while.... :eek:

Trojan

uberwolf wrote:

See you friday so

It's more likely that you'll hear me

Ah yeah, in fairness the crowd were pretty good in comparision to the deafening silence at some of the games last year.

I still think Phils the man you're looking for

How about Molly?

RuggieBear

Trojan wrote:

How about Molly?

no real passion to it imo but cant think a viable alternative...

I'm really looking forward to friday night....should be a cracking game.....

uberwolf

Trojan wrote:

How about Molly?

as she wheeled her... *clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap**clap* LEINSTER.

worked for schools rugby

RuggieBear

uberwolf wrote:

worked for schools rugby

good point.....just have to get some of those megaphones thingies....

uberwolf

I'll post an article I wrote for our college paper on the very topic of introducing schools cheerleaders for Leinster matches.

RuggieBear

uberwolf wrote:

I'll post an article I wrote for our college paper on the very topic of introducing schools cheerleaders for Leinster matches.

that would be interesting......

uberwolf

RuggieBear wrote:

that would be interesting......

Not sure if you meant the concept or teh article but thanks to the wonder that is Gmail I have a version of teh article. Comments please. (btw this has already gone to print) - So I'm only posting for discussion rather than improvements or copy editing

___________________

I took delivery of my Leinster season ticket a couple of weeks ago and have so far managed to get to all the home games offered. Declan Kidney’s charges haven’t disappointed on the field of play, getting a deserved draw against a Cardiff side who on paper should have trounced them, breaking Ulster’s impressive home unbeaten run before last weekends clash of the titans (at least according to the respective fans) which resulted in Leinster beating Munster despite the southerners having the benefit of more of their international contingent. Within those team performances have been some wonderful individual efforts, Gary Brown capping a great performance against Munster by sidestepping Christian Cullen for a great try. UCDs Brian O’Riordan scored a try against Ulster but the plaudits have to be reserved for Des Dillon at number 8. The first game of the season against Cardiff would probably be best described as edgy, handling errors dominated, but the Leinster men would probably have been happier given the quality of the side they were facing.

Which is all well and good however, the performance of the crowd simply hasn’t matched that of the team. Individual efforts aplenty, but there is a spectacular lack of cohesion amongst the fans. “Come On Leinster” is roared by a select few at frequent intervals and very occasionally a murmur of “Leeiinster, Leeiinster” starts but quickly disperses. Moments of excitement are matched off the field and scores are met with great enthusiasm but in terms of atmosphere there is nothing. Sad that really, and it needs addressing. Match reports of the last two years from the Heineken Cup matches held in Lansdowne consistently commented on the flat, muted response of the crowd. This negates a great degree of the home advantage Leinster should be enjoying and removes from the experience for the crowd. The atmosphere is palpable when you flick on the TV and Thomond Park is hosting anything. I’m aware you can’t transplant an atmosphere, or expect something that has been fostered for years in Thomond, Musgrave or Ravenhill to spontaneously occur in Donnybrook, and that steps can and should be taken to assist the process.

Just what though?? My introduction to Donnybrook was made through Senior Cup Rugby and I still have fond memories of afternoons spent cheering our teams efforts. We had assistance though, in the form of cheerleaders who were the most exuberant members of the senior year with jump suits, musical instruments and a massive repertoire of cup songs. In those lucky years where a team put together a run and we found ourselves in Lansdowne on Paddy’s day it was evident that the lessons learnt over the years in school hadn’t been lost on the alumni and both teams typically had fans in opposing stands competing against their counterparts to produce the greatest level of support. I believe this enthusiasm could be harnessed for Leinster by taking some of these cheerleaders into the employ of the Leinster union, decking them out appropriately and setting them about their business. They could teach those willing in the stands so that one day a shudder as great as the forwards colliding like stags in the first scrum of the game might wash down over our laochra in blue and weigh heavily upon the shoulders of the fifteen invaders. Molly Malone and The Fields of Athenry, hoarse throats gently nursed by cool beer. Friday night in Donnybrook. “Come On Leinster”
____________

RuggieBear

good stuff!!! My brother played for the JCT in Rock so i saw their cheerleaders in action a good few times....think it might be worth considering!

Any former schools cheerleaders out there......?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I played JCT for one year and SCT for two years with my school. Granted we werent a great rugby school, but cheerleaders always helped us out. I helped out with the JCT cheerleading when i was playing SCT. There is NOTHING like the feeling you get from playing in front of your school like that. I havent played as much rugby as i used to cos i dont get the same thrill from club rugby. Even going to school cup matches still gives me a tingle from the excitement.....even if my school arent playing!!!

I think some form of cheerleaders would be good at the leinster games......but not that stupid lion that walks around the pitch :rolleyes: