Rugby Crowd and 'ssssshing'

The Davestator

First off, I keep quite when a kick is being taken by an opposing player, but I do have a massive problem with others in the crowd 'ssshing' others when the kick is being lined up.:mad:

Everyone pays for their ticket and should be able to shout if they want and not be shsshed by 'holier than thou' people acting like school teachers.

I do feel that some Irish fans think they're great and better than others because they dont try to put the kicker off.

Live and let live is my policy and I'd never shsss someone who has paid the same price as me to be there.

ForeverYoung90

Well thats just life I suppose.:o
You gotta take the good with the bad..

peterako

But thene there's always:

Respect for our traditions......

Though at yesterday's game I would have thought the ssshing would have been so as not to WAKE the crowd.

toomevara

In ireland people sssh...in France/NZ/SA/OZ people roar and shout in fact its considered daft not to...some clubs in England give the bit of hush others don't...All part of the rich tapestry of rugby.....

Pittens

I wonder if Croke Park is too big - and is taking in people who are not normally that passionate about Rubgy? maybe 50K is better.


honestly the whole silence when the guy is kicking is probably psychologically nonsense. If it does anything it might put people off: a whole stadium has gone silent and the kicker is going to kick the ball in front of them. Way to become more aware of a crowd, like people falling silent when you enter a room.

A bit of yelling or singing , or booing would be less offputting. Its not a problem when drop kicking.

JustinDee

The Davestator wrote: »

First off, I keep quite when a kick is being taken by an opposing player, but I do have a massive problem with others in the crowd 'ssshing' others when the kick is being lined up.:mad:

Everyone pays for their ticket and should be able to shout if they want and not be shsshed by 'holier than thou' people acting like school teachers.

I do feel that some Irish fans think they're great and better than others because they dont try to put the kicker off.

Live and let live is my policy and I'd never shsss someone who has paid the same price as me to be there.

Irish fans have a reputation of silencing for the kicks and in the majority (judging by the way it is persisted with), want to keep it like that. Some brave soul safe up in the stands yelling 'kick the f***ing ball' like yesterday or whistling during a prep-for is not what the Irish fan appears to not want an association with. Its a tradition that makes the sport quite special.
Call it sanctimonious if you like but paying a ticket fee doesn't entitle you to do everything you want at a game. Feel free to whistle or whatever but don't expect any plaudits for what you do*
I shut up during a kick myself but I don't ever applaud an opposition score via a kick. They're scoring against us. The same as a try. Nobody's perfect I suppose.

The worst supporter is not the early leaver or late arrival but the idiot behind me who hasn't a clue what 'advantage' means. I can't help myself but I've got to turn around and let them know what the ref is doing at least once a game.



* "you" not meaning you in particular of course.

toomevara

Pittens wrote: »

A bit of yelling or singing , or booing would be less offputting. Its not a problem when drop kicking.

I agree ,think it's all a bit precious/daft tbh, but each to their own.

JustinDee

toomevara wrote: »

I agree ,think it's all a bit precious/daft tbh, but each to their own.

Silence can actually be very off-putting to a kicker. I remember the USA kicker in the RWC99 pool game against the Wallabies in Thomond Pk missing in front of the posts. He said afterwards the silence was deafening.

toomevara

JustinDee wrote: »

Silence can actually be very off-putting to a kicker. I remember the USA kicker in the RWC99 pool game against the Wallabies in Thomond Pk missing in front of the posts. He said afterwards the silence was deafening.

Oh yeah, completely agree, its just I don't go in for all this morally superior, 'respect the kicker/tradition' nonsense that you often get wheeled out..

thomond2006

The Davestator wrote: »

Everyone pays for their ticket and should be able to shout if they want and not be shsshed by 'holier than thou' people acting like school teachers.

I do feel that some Irish fans think they're great and better than others because they dont try to put the kicker off.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do..."

D.R cowboy

Us guys who have played rugby at school level will respect the game , it this new bread of rugby fans dragged up in life that have changed the tradition of the game..

itsallaboutheL

toomevara wrote: »

Oh yeah, completely agree, its just I don't go in for all this morally superior, 'respect the kicker/tradition' nonsense that you often get wheeled out..

That perception doesn't ring true anymore imo, the reason it's upheld in thomond these days is because people are well aware that it puts the heebie-jeebies up opposition kickers..

toomevara

D.R cowboy wrote: »

Us guys who have played rugby at school level will respect the game , it this new bread of rugby fans dragged up in life that have changed the tradition of the game..

So only those who have played rugby at school level can understand/respect rugby. With respect dear fellow, thats errant, elitist nonsense and is the kind of attitude I'd hoped had died out in ireland over the last decade or so...patently not however...

Pittens

What does the guy from Blackrock mean by tradition?

I am willing to be corrected on this but I think that there was more noise at Lansdowne road during attempts at goal back in the day - like the 80's. No booing, or OOOOooohing, or putting the other guys off. Just talking. General crowd murmer, like when play stops in other areas. I believe Thomand has always been totally silent.

Sandwlch

The Davestator wrote: »

First off, I keep quite when a kick is being taken by an opposing player, but I do have a massive problem with others in the crowd 'ssshing' others when the kick is being lined up.:mad:

Everyone pays for their ticket and should be able to shout if they want and not be shsshed by 'holier than thou' people acting like school teachers.

I do feel that some Irish fans think they're great and better than others because they dont try to put the kicker off.

Live and let live is my policy and I'd never shsss someone who has paid the same price as me to be there.

You are saying its OK to shout but not to shussshhh.

Live and let live you say? Why are you complaining about the shussers then? Let them shusssshh if the want to!

D.R cowboy

Pittens wrote: »

What does the guy from Blackrock mean by tradition?

I am willing to be corrected on this but I think that there was more noise at Lansdowne road during attempts at goal back in the day - like the 80's. No booing, or OOOOooohing, or putting the other guys off. Just talking. General crowd murmer, like when play stops in other areas. I believe Thomand has always been totally silent.

just shouting more vulgar things at the players it's an ear sore to listen too

Pittens

Oh, I agree with ssshing people there. I think the idea is to stop all conversations, as if it were a minutes silence. That I dont agree with.

onlyrocknroll

It's such a lazy argument to call any rule or norm you don't agree with 'moral superiority'. People are quite entitled to have some expectations of proper behavior, disagree if you will but don't just label your those you disagree with.

The tradition of silence for the kicker is a great tradition in Irish rugby. As something that most Irish rugby supporter feel strongly about, it's only to be expected that they should enforce it with a bit of shushing. I don't see the problem; if you believe that your money entitles you to cheer, why doesn't it entitle others to shush you.

Tefral

Pittens wrote: »

I believe Thomand has always been totally silent.

Quite Right, i remember going to games there when there was only one stand and that place used to be silent when kicking, this was the tradition. Then the stadium expanded, it was kept, Munster gained more fans as their success continued. I stand totally open to correction on this but my own opinion on it is that the bandwagoners "Lunsters" then brought this with them up the country which it then spread to the national stadia.

Saying that, i went to a few Shannon games as a kid and people used to talk at them. That was when Shannon had more supporters than Munster at the time.

Catmologen

People are even doing the sssshing thing in pubs now, thats incredibly irritating.

Re: Croke Park, there's zero atmosphere there for rugby matches and the sooner we move back to Landsdown the better.

Tefral

Catmologen wrote: »

People are even doing the sssshing thing in pubs now, thats incredibly irritating.

I have noticed that actually too. Sucks the atmosphere out of the pub aswell, its a joke..

I agree with keeping a low profile during kicks at matches, however at a pub not a chance.

Podge_irl

I don't make any noise during a kick, but people sshing make more noise than what was originally there half the time. It's a bit silly really. No one has a problem with people making noise when someone is taking a droppy or catching a high ball.

Diabhal Beag

If you don't want to be respectful then don't go to a home match. It's a proud tradition and it shows respect to the opposition, something that most sports can only imagine doing.

toomevara

Its the illogicality of it that I find daft..If it really is about 'respect', why just a conversion? Why not be quiet for the lineout throw-in, a drop etc...etc...hell why not just watch the game in total silence! Personally I think its all a bit precious and po-faced, but hey whatever floats your boat.

danthefan

It's tradition in Ireland to be quiet for kickers, I think that should continue.

What pisses me off however, is people (and I've seen it on here) whinging about the 'disgrace' of SH/French fans shouting during kicks. That's their tradition, just because we're quiet doesn't mean it's the correct way to behave while kicking.

Diabhal Beag

toomevara wrote: »

Its the illogicality of it that I find daft..If it really is about 'respect', why just a conversion? Why not be quiet for the lineout throw-in, a drop etc...etc...hell why not just watch the game in total silence! Personally I think its all a bit precious and po-faced, but hey whatever floats your boat.

My point is that the Irish crowd know that they won't put off a kicker by shouting obscenities and respect that. They understand how annoying it is when some fool shouts blatant obscenities. It also aids the fact that rugby really is a family friendly sport in Ireland which is a credit to the fans attending.

Podge_irl

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

My point is that the Irish crowd know that they won't put off a kicker by shouting obscenities and respect that. They understand how annoying it is when some fool shouts blatant obscenities. It also aids the fact that rugby really is a family friendly sport in Ireland which is a credit to the fans attending.

I've been near many a person who while being a hardcore sssher was also anything but family friendly for the rest of the game.

Pittens

I think we are talking at cross purposes here. I dont have a problem with people silencing noise designed to put the other team off.

The problem I have with ssshing is that it stops general conversation. The kind that goes on when play stops anyway. I have been ssh'ed for conversing about the last try. But what better time?

The whole thing has moved on from not putting the opposition off, to creating a Holy Moment where any talk - whatsoever - is a form of sacrilidge. Like talking during a moments silence.

Someday somebody will get the crap kicked out of him* for sneezing during a conversion..

* not really. It is a rugby crowd after all. He will probably suffer a lot of tut-tutting, and ostracisation from the dinner party circuit. Worse!

toomevara

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

It also aids the fact that rugby really is a family friendly sport in Ireland which is a credit to the fans attending.

Nah, don't buy that, rugby, union and league is a family friendly sport regardless of what country its played in, in my experience and regardless of whether people boo kickers or not. As for people shouting obscenities, I've been attending rugby games of both codes at all levels since 1982 and the air is always rich with curses, imprecations and impassioned appeals to the Gods! All part of the experience for me.

gonnaplayrugby

D.R cowboy wrote: »

just shouting more vulgar things at the players it's an ear sore to listen too

you didnt go to blackrock i bet it or any rugby school.

d'Oracle

Catmologen wrote: »

People are even doing the sssshing thing in pubs now, thats incredibly irritating.

Agree.

Judgement Day

d'Oracle wrote: »

Agree.

Lighten up - in my experience it's only done in pubs for a joke. At International matches it's an Irish tradition to be quiet during kicks - has been since time in memoriam.

d'Oracle

Judgement Day wrote: »

Lighten up - in my experience it's only done in pubs for a joke. At International matches it's an Irish tradition to be quiet during kicks - has been since time in memoriam.

I am very light. Blinding in fact.
And its only a feckin joke when people aren't giving you a hard time for not doing it. Your experience is not mine, so schtuff it.

Catmologen

Judgement Day wrote: »

Lighten up - in my experience it's only done in pubs for a joke. At International matches it's an Irish tradition to be quiet during kicks - has been since time in memoriam.

Was in the Rob Roy in Cork for a match recently and people who werent even watching the rugby were getting shushed. The cheek of them having a conversation, in a pub!

T-Square

The Davestator wrote: »

First off, I keep quite when a kick is being taken by an opposing player, but I do have a massive problem with others in the crowd 'ssshing' others when the kick is being lined up.:mad:

Everyone pays for their ticket and should be able to shout if they want and not be shsshed by 'holier than thou' people acting like school teachers.

I do feel that some Irish fans think they're great and better than others because they dont try to put the kicker off.

Live and let live is my policy and I'd never shsss someone who has paid the same price as me to be there.

This happens because rugby has always been a upper middle class sport.

Football has always been seen by these people are lower class/blue collar sport.

Football fans shout. Rugby fans don't shout, just for that reason.

I'd say you were as popular as a fart in a space suit during the game!;)

Pittens

Football fans shout. Rugby fans don't shout, just for that reason.

Ah that explains the lack of atmosphere in Croke park recently. The middle class ennui of it all.

The french were shouting like bastards today though, didnt get the memo.

d'Oracle

T-Square wrote: »

This happens because rugby has always been a upper middle class sport.

Football has always been seen by these people are lower class/blue collar sport.

Football fans shout. Rugby fans don't shout, just for that reason.

I'd say you were as popular as a fart in a space suit during the game!;)

While it is an upper middle class sport (in the main, in most of the countries its played in) thats about as far as it goes.

Not shouting at rugby...... of all the nonsense......

IrishKev

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't make any noise during a kick, but people sshing make more noise than what was originally there half the time. It's a bit silly really. No one has a problem with people making noise when someone is taking a droppy or catching a high ball.

The reason people don't keep quiet during a drop goal or a high ball is, obviously, because it's not a dead ball situation. If the whole crowd suddenly stopped making noise in the middle of a play it would sound fairly stupid.

The Davestator

T-Square wrote: »

This happens because rugby has always been a upper middle class sport.

Football has always been seen by these people are lower class/blue collar sport.

Football fans shout. Rugby fans don't shout, just for that reason.

I'd say you were as popular as a fart in a space suit during the game!;)

read my post and the u can come in with your witty retort. I keep quite but as lots of others have said, it's an individual choice to be quite or not and bring ssshhhed at a match is not on

Judgement Day

OP - all I can say is that if you're lucky enough to be able to attend Home internationals you better get used to it.

Pittens

The reason people don't keep quiet during a drop goal or a high ball is, obviously, because it's not a dead ball situation.

Lineout, put-in to scrum, kick off. Dead ball.

pappyodaniel

I remember the Munster/Toulouse Heineken Cup Semi-Final in Bordeaux back in 2000 and being in the stand near a French Brass band. At one stage of the game, O'Gara was lining up to take a penalty, with this, the Brass Band started playing a tune. Well, the Munster fans went completely berserk! Shouting awful abuse at them to stop and give respect to the kicker, the band relented to the vitriol being aimed at them and gingerly put down their instruments. O'Gara slotted over the kick and the Munster fans slapped one another on the back as a job well done because RO'G wouldn't have scored without their intervention. :rolleyes:

By the way I'm a Munster fan, but I thought they were wrong in this instance. You can't go abroad and impose your version of what is acceptable sportsmanship.

On a side-note, I was delighted with myself because at the final whistle I started chanting "Always look on the bright side of life - Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse." Everyone joined in and I have heard it many times since. I'm the Phil Coulter of chants.

IrishKev

Pittens wrote: »

Lineout, put-in to scrum, kick off. Dead ball.

Yeah, but they're different. Penalties are opportunities to score and put points on the board. Scrums, lineouts and all those aren't.



EDIT: As in a direct way of scoring points (in response to the below comment)

toomevara

IrishKev wrote: »

. Penalties are opportunities to score and put points on the board. Scrums, lineouts and all those aren't.

Well of course they are...5 metre scrum/Lineout? Prime scoring opportunities in the modern game.

IrishKev

Yeah I know but you know what I mean! Penalties are actual direct ways of getting points, as in if you kick this ball over the bar, you get three points. It's not the same with scrums and lineouts. :S

Trojan

I love it when the crowd goes silent because I think it puts a lot more pressure on the visiting kicker.

Trojan

And btw, if the attendees have have the right to make noise during the kicks, then by that logic they explicitly have the right to say "shh"

JustinDee

D.R cowboy wrote: »

Us guys who have played rugby at school level will respect the game , it this new bread of rugby fans dragged up in life that have changed the tradition of the game..

Oh don't be silly.
Any old bunch of duffers with a few drinks on them can act the wally at a game and very often do.
I was at Ireland v Australia in the early 80s at Lansdowne and there were Irish fans (absolutely hammered) standing around me whistling during the kicks.

Don't wish to be trite but the word you were spelling is actually spelt as follows: breed.
What school did you go to?*





* thats a joke by the way.

Pittens

And btw, if the attendees have have the right to make noise during the kicks, then by that logic they explicitly have the right to say "shh"

If they were saying ssh as part of the general cacophony it wouldn't be an issue.

Aidric

I have no problem with people courting an aul sshh at the ground on matchday but if some yokel starts it inside in a busy pub then that's just downright bizarre.

pappyodaniel

I met a man this evening and he was telling me of the last time he was in Thomond Park and his seat was next to my father's in the East Stand. I think the game was Clermont and he told me how some young fella started jeering the kicker (Brock James) as he was lining up for the kick. I was told my dad didn't ssshh the young fella, he actually gave him a slap in the back of the head and said "this is Thomond Park, we have respect for the kickers". :eek:

I couldn't believe it!...well on second thought, going by the hidings i used to get off the bstrd, I definately can.

Gone are the days of physically educating 'other' people's kids. Alas