Croker - an advantage???

davyjose · 03-02-2007 8:04pm #1

So we've got an extra 30,000 fans screaming their lungs at Ireland to win, but will this outweigh the fact that it's a pitch we've bever played on before? Lansdowne had the distinct advantage of being immensely hard to kick in (thus requiring a lot of practice, which ROG has), and added to little things like subtle changes in pitch dimensions etc, it will be like playing on an away pitch for us too. Or does this matter much?

LundiMardi · 03-02-2007 8:15pm

I think the only disadvantage of playing away is the lack of fans. So in this case, i'd say Ireland have the advantage! They should revel in it... What kind of grass they're standing on won't make a difference as far as i'm concerned.

An Tarbh · 03-02-2007 11:48pm

Well EOS said the quality of the pitch is similar to what they have in the Stade de France and most of the team would have played there at least once in their careers so it shouldn't be anything new.

One thing Im worried about with the French match is the fact that the croke park pitch is going to be so much bigger than Lansdowne and that will play right into the hands of the French, it should benefit us for the England game but I'd be far more concerned about the French out wide.

Diamondmaker · 04-02-2007 9:13am

Part of the home advantage in Lansdowne was its inhospitality as a physical venue ( it was a kip

) from the changing rooms to the stands.
The wind whipped up into an unpredicatble frrenzy, around that mish mash of car boot sale bought stands, that no one had any handle on except- some how ROG.
Croke park has paralells of the provinces moving from Donnybrook and thomond to Lansdowne, its still "home" but not as they know it.