Are fans letting the Irish rugby team down?
On Saturday, Ireland easily defeated Wales 31-7 on home turf in the Aviva Stadium.
For rugby fans, it should have been a moment of euphoria but Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley feels the atmosphere was a bit flat.
Speaking to Lunchtime Live, said he has several theories about why people were not as excited as they might have been.
“This is a great Irish team playing and maybe we’ve become a little bit too used to winning and a bit too entitled?” he said.
“It tells me that the tickets aren’t falling into the right hands; it’s maybe too corporate and a lot more could be done to make the atmosphere better.”
🗣️ "I can't put it into words how good this feels."
What a day for Oli! 🙌#TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/Mo0kzX78tp— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 25, 2024
By comparison, Mr Thornley said the atmosphere when Ireland played in Paris during last year’s World Cup was “absolutely electric”.
The crowd turned up well beforehand, most wore green or had flags and they were extremely vocal during the match.
“After [Saturday’s] Wales game, when Zombie played, most people were headed to the pub,” Mr Thornley said.
Over the years, Mr Thornley has written several columns about this issue and feels it really resonates with readers.
“One of the saddest emails I got when I started writing about this on a couple of occasions was a reader who had been going to the Aviva for 30, 40 years,” Mr Thornley said.
“Where before [he] was able to recognise 20, 30, 40, 50 people in the general vicinity, now barely [he] recognises two or three.
“I definitely think there seems to be less fans coming up from Connacht and Ulster - I just have that sense.”
“You’ve a big job for me today.” 🥹
Pete making sure our match day mascots are ready to lead the team out! #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/qeh3bIdg52— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 26, 2024
Mr Thornley thinks it is a “real problem” and a huge shame because the current team “deserve better”.
“A large portion of the crowd seem to just be having a day out alright, for sure,” he said.
“They’re not as engaged as they could be - that is a factor; it has to be a factor.
“I always get inundated with messages, emails like no other issue in the last 10 years when I raise this.”
Solution?
One small change he feels could improve the atmosphere is a ban on people getting up to buy drink halfway through the match.
“I just think that maybe not having people up and down the aisle with drinks during the game would help a little bit?” he said.
“But there’s a lot more that could be done.”
Ireland’s next Six Nations match is on March 9th, when they take on England at Twickenham.
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Main image: Ireland players at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Picture by: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
