Why should formalities hold up proceedings at Lansdowne Road this Sat?

kevin99

What realy intrigues me is the time spent on formalities prior to kick off at Lansdowne Road.

We will have the Ireland squad warming up for 3/4 of an hour before returning to the dressing room for last minute preparations.

Then they walk out onto the Lansdowne Road surface with the crowd roaring at fever pitch. I think there is a Presidential salute for the arrival of the President in her seat before the teams come out on to the pitch. Not sure of the timing for that though.
Then we have the President greeting the players. Two minutes. She always chats to BOD, instead of getting on with the niceties.
Both teams have to wait another minute or more while the President returns to her seat in the stand.
Then the national anthems are belted out.
England's national anthem will be played first. (90 secs)
Then the first of our two anthems will be blasted out - (90 secs) followed by Ireland's Call ( 1.20secs).
Both teams prepare line up to do battle. The referee chats to the outhalf kicking off, he awaits the signal to start the match from the television floor director. (1minute)
It is over 8 minutes between the teams arrival onto the pitch and the game commencing. So whatever warm-up they have done has been negated by this hanging around for the formalities.

I didn't see Princess Anne meeting the players on the pitch prior to the Ireland v Scotland match at Murrayfiield, not did I see the Prince of Wales greet the players prior to the Ireland v Wales game at the Millennium stadium last week. So what on earth do we have to be different?

Let the two teams run out ont the pitch, stand for the anthems and get on with the game.

Guy:Incognito

How does it hold up the kick off? The match is kicking off at 5 regardless of whether the lads arrive at the stadium in their gear at 4:55 or if they spend 2 hours runnign around the pitch beforehand.

If the length of time was an issue it would be addressed. Either way, it's the same for everyone.

We could always have the Haka debate again if people like

TheRevolution

I wish McAleese would stop holding up the game. You never see the Royal family doing it nor Sarkozy when they go to games.

thomond2006

TheRevolution wrote: »

I wish McAleese would stop holding up the game. You never see the Royal family doing it nor Sarkozy when they go to games.

Don't think we'll ever see Sarkozy doing it, he hates looking small!

bullpost

Gives the non-drinkers something to do before a game

kevin99

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How does it hold up the kick off? The match is kicking off at 5 regardless of whether the lads arrive at the stadium in their gear at 4:55 or if they spend 2 hours runnign around the pitch beforehand.

If the length of time was an issue it would be addressed. Either way, it's the same for everyone.

We could always have the Haka debate again if people like

None of our games kick off on time. They are always 8 minutes late when at Lansdowne Road. FACT.

Colm_OReilly

A delay like that (8 minutes) would have very little to no impact on the players match readiness, particularly in a sport that's played over 80 minutes.

phog

TheRevolution wrote: »

I wish McAleese would stop holding up the game. You never see the Royal family doing it nor Sarkozy when they go to games.

Have you ever watched an Scottish International game in Murrayfield, Princess Anne meets the team and last I checked she is a member of the Royal family.

TheRevolution

Princess Anne has never held up a game.

im invisible

I blame 'Ireland's Call'....