Leinster fans thank Ulster fans

Tim Robbins

Hope anyone won't mind me creating a special thread for this but I thought it deserved. I thought the Ulster fans were great on Saturday. They really got behind their team and are mad about rugby. They are also respectful and generally good craic up for a few pints and some banter. Even a few of them were giving a "Oiche Maith" on the way home!

Fair play.

iDave

The 50/50 split in the ground i think did wonders for the atmposhere. Was great craic responding with COYBIB when the Ulster fans started SUFTUM. I think the Ulster fans should of shown more respect to kickers and match officials though.

Tim Robbins

iDave wrote: »

The 50/50 split in the ground i think did wonders for the atmposhere. Was great craic responding with COYBIB when the Ulster fans started SUFTUM. I think the Ulster fans should of shown more respect to kickers and match officials though.

The Leinster fans boo'd Roman Poite last year when he went up to collect his medal.

.ak

Yeah, really don't mind the boo'ing, because there was never really any venom in it. It seems to be part of the Ulster fans repertoire. Some of the Ulster fans will disagree here, and it's obviously split some opinions, but Ravenhill is well known for getting on the back of a ref if a decision doesn't go there way. Is it disrespectful? No. That's stretching it, that's being a bit too precious. It's a game at the end of the day. You just had to talk to the Ulster fans after the game to realize there was no venom or disrespect in it. Great colourful fans imo. Just because they do things differently than Leinster fans doesn't make it bad imo.

Tim Robbins

.ak wrote: »

Yeah, really don't mind the boo'ing, because there was never really any venom in it. It seems to be part of the Ulster fans repertoire. Some of the Ulster fans will disagree here, and it's obviously split some opinions, but Ravenhill is well known for getting on the back of a ref if a decision doesn't go there way. Is it disrespectful? No. That's stretching it, that's being a bit too precious. It's a game at the end of the day. You just had to talk to the Ulster fans after the game to realize there was no venom or disrespect in it. Great colourful fans imo. Just because they do things differently than Leinster fans doesn't make it bad imo.

The game had 25 penalties and a lot of very close calls. A lot of the frustration is not helped by RTE's Donal Lenihan. There were times when a Leinster player was pinged for not releasing and - he thought I don't know why - it was because a player went off his feet. Then the slow motion replay would show no player off his feet and Donal would say that was a hard call.

I have said it before but RTE (especially with their budget) should have someone who understands the laws, how they are applied and all the ref signals as it is very confusing for fans.

In fairness to Lacey he had a high penalty count but he was consistent and he nearly identified the offender not just the offense. Both teams discipline at the break down wasn't exactly great either at times.

tolosenc

Fair play to the Ulster fans, really played their part in generating what sounded like an awesome atmosphere!

(Out of interest, why were we booing Poite last year?)

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I have said it before but RTE (especially with their budget) should have someone who understands the laws, how they are applied and all the ref signals as it is very confusing for fans.

The time where he commended Munster for stealing their own lineout has to take the biscuit.

Benny Cake

Get a room lads!!

Losty Dublin

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I have said it before but RTE (especially with their budget) should have someone who understands the laws, how they are applied and all the ref signals as it is very confusing for fans.

If you think Lenihan is bad then try listen to some of the law observations that come from BBC's Jonathan Davies. For such a mercurial player he hasn't a clue about what's what from the referee on match day.

Swiwi

Did people like the 50/50 split right down the middle, or would have mixing the supporters up worked as well?

shaungil

Did not like booing of kickers. This is not soccer. Respect

Taco Corp

Swiwi wrote: »

Did people like the 50/50 split right down the middle, or would have mixing the supporters up worked as well?

I think it had to be done this way due to the Ulster fans constantly standing up!!

durkadurka

Has to be said the ulster lads have fierce weak bladders.

Couldn't get near the jacks at all.

sydthebeat

I spent the whole game in the north stand in the middle of what was clearly hard core ulster fans, I had no problem being vocal and passionate and celebrating our scores and never once felt or heard any animosity. I had great banter with some of them, argued the toss over some calls and received many shaken hands after the game. The ulster fans are very boisterous and it was a strange but memorable experienced!

This booing / shouting during the kicking thing is being way over sold. It was minimal and when it happened they were hushed up.

mfceiling

durkadurka wrote: »

Has to be said the ulster lads have fierce weak bladders.

Couldn't get near the jacks at all.

Probably cause most of the Ulster fans drink more than their wine sipping leinster compatriots!!

durkadurka

mfceiling wrote: »

Probably cause most of the Ulster fans drink more than their wine sipping leinster compatriots!!

Nah it's the Harp. Sure it's that close to piss it must just flow straight through.

Skid X

sydthebeat wrote: »

I spent the whole game in the north stand in the middle of what was clearly hard core ulster fans, I had no problem being vocal and passionate and celebrating our scores and never once felt or heard any animosity. I had great banter with some of them, argued the toss over some calls and received many shaken hands after the game. The ulster fans are very boisterous and it was a strange but memorable experienced!

This booing / shouting during the kicking thing is being way over sold. It was minimal and when it happened they were hushed up.

Same here, it was a memorable experience to be surrounded by the passionate Ulster Supporters on Saturday. They were great craic from start to finish and magnanimous in defeat. They are a credit to their team and hopefully Ulster will be on the winning side in a final soon. (Against a team which isn't Leinster !)

durkadurka

Actually it bring new meaning to "stand up for the ulstermen " - other spectators keep having to stand up to let them go and "strain the spuds'

.ak

Swiwi wrote: »

Did people like the 50/50 split right down the middle, or would have mixing the supporters up worked as well?

I was a fan! But only really for big knock out games like that. For example I'd miss not being able to mingle with away fans during the league.

durkadurka

The segregation defo helped the atmosphere .
But I don't want to have a situation where this is the norm.

Podge_irl

tolosenc wrote: »

(Out of interest, why were we booing Poite last year?)

I believe it was for the succession of penalties against the Leinster scrum. Particularly the continuous resets in one corner before half time (which I was right beside). It seemed to us that Spreys were dropping it as much if not more than Leinster and a lot of people took offence.

I somehow doubt most of the people booing at the end have an indepth knowledge of the scrum though. I found it quite distasteful tbh, and it was particularly loud where I was.

shaungil wrote: »

Did not like booing of kickers. This is not soccer. Respect

Its a complete aside, but I've never entirely understood the "respect" aspect of staying silent for kicks. Particularly when its added to by people claiming the silence if more unnerving than the booing. Are you trying to show the kicker respect or trying to unnerve him? And why is making noise when a high ball is coming down acceptable?

I don't like booing in general, but I find the "shushing" brigade worse.

chupacabra

Podge_irl wrote: »

Its a complete aside, but I've never entirely understood the "respect" aspect of staying silent for kicks. Particularly when its added to by people claiming the silence if more unnerving than the booing. Are you trying to show the kicker respect or trying to unnerve him? And why is making noise when a high ball is coming down acceptable?

I don't like booing in general, but I find the "shushing" brigade worse.

What really gets my goat is the stadium announcer in Thomond Park telling people to respect the great ancient Munster tradition of being silent for the kickers. Let people be silent all they want but announcing it is just "look at us, look at our great tradition arent we lovely"

trouttrout

Damn, I knew I used the gay seal picture too early!

awec

Is that before or after that feckin' awful "stand up and fight" tune gets blared out over the tannoy?

Lyaiera

awec wrote: »

Is that before or after that feckin' awful "stand up and fight" tune gets blared out over the tannoy?

I'm surprised you had to put up with that at the RDS. Munster weren't even playing. Although I suppose when the IRFU, ERC, IRB, all the referees, stadium announcers, RTE presenters, Frankie Sheahan and The People's Front of Judea commit to a conspiracy they really commit. :P

finatron

chupacabra wrote: »

What really gets my goat is the stadium announcer in Thomond Park telling people to respect the great ancient Munster tradition of being silent for the kickers. Let people be silent all they want but announcing it is just "look at us, look at our great tradition arent we lovely"

Jesus even on a tread that has notting to do with Munster some people just can't but help themselves twist the knife

thomond2006

finatron wrote: »

Jesus even on a tread that has notting to do with Munster some people just can't but help themselves twist the knife

He is a Munster fan.

Eponymous

mfceiling wrote: »

Probably cause most of the Ulster fans drink more than their wine sipping leinster compatriots!!

Wine?

Champagne!

justsomebloke

Eponymous wrote: »

Wine?

Champagne!

pffft!

cognac

jacothelad

durkadurka wrote: »

Nah it's the Harp. Sure it's that close to piss it must just flow straight through.

Yep. Made in Dundalk from sewage apparently...:D

buck65

Patronising thread.

sydthebeat

buck65 wrote: »

Patronising thread.

do you feel patronised?

buck65

Absolutely if I was from Ulster, pat on the head - well done mate ye're great craic - as long as we won.

Ulster have not won anything this year after all the ruckus of the new manager coming. If they had a bigger stadium I have no doubt they would have won this one - no ref would have pulled that ****, that Lacey did, in Belfast.

Taco Corp

buck65 wrote: »

Absolutely if I was from Ulster, pat on the head - well done mate ye're great craic - as long as we won.

Ulster have not won anything this year after all the ruckus of the new manager coming. If they had a bigger stadium I have no doubt they would have won this one - no ref would have pulled that ****, that Lacey did, in Belfast.

are you also saying that Diack wouldn't have made a mess of his opportunity if the game had been in Belfast?

Teferi

buck65 wrote: »

as long as we won.

You've made this bit up though so really your just looking for something to have a moan about when I think the OP meant a heartfelt thanks for creating a cracking atmosphere.

shaungil

Its a complete aside, but I've never entirely understood the "respect" aspect of staying silent for kicks. Particularly when its added to by people claiming the silence if more unnerving than the booing. Are you trying to show the kicker respect or trying to unnerve him? And why is making noise when a high ball is coming down acceptable?

I don't like booing in general, but I find the "shushing" brigade worse.[/QUOTE]

Its tradition and respectful not to yell at someone in a quiet situation. For an up and under there is a general hubbub anyway. more like a golf swing I guess.

.ak

buck65 wrote: »

Absolutely if I was from Ulster, pat on the head - well done mate ye're great craic - as long as we won.

Ulster have not won anything this year after all the ruckus of the new manager coming. If they had a bigger stadium I have no doubt they would have won this one - no ref would have pulled that ****, that Lacey did, in Belfast.

Lacey didn't lose the game for Ulster, Leinster were just the better team.

Was that because it was in the RDS? Probably. I feel bad for Ulster having to play it away from home after all the work they put in over the season. Is that patronizing? Couldn't care really, just making a statement.

Try taking a complement now and again, wouldn't kill ya.

sydthebeat

.ak wrote: »

.....

Try taking a complement now and again, wouldn't kill ya.

s/hes not even an ulster fan....

theres nothing as patronising as taking offence on behalf of others.