In.
If you havent stood on the schoolboys terrace at the worlds oldest rugby ground at a world cup AND a 4/5/6 nations game get the fuck out of this thread.
Schmidt and kiss are geniuses. Theyve coached a nobody like dave kearney into a player that doesnt look out of place, and didnt give france a sniff. Thank fuck we had a few hardy protestants to get it done when the few by the grace of god soft cocks cried off.
The soccer crowd are seething, the rugby team has shown now and against oz in the last one that you can control a game at a world cup, not just bore the world to tears with back passes or celebrate fluke goals that went in off a lads shin as an epic achievement. Though the games will never be as entertaining as gaa or nfl there’s something satisfying about watching a win based on physical power, not negativity being rewarded, as in irish soccer. Its a mans sport. Sean O Brien works on his auld lads farm, horses pints, rides d4 women, plays a bit of junior for his club and gets into the odd scrape on the street and is well able for it by all accounts. Thats an irish man, not the council estate scum or failed english players that play for the (no such country as) Republic of Ireland.
I just threw this one out there as I sipped an Earl grey tea in the canteen… “Unless Sexton learns to tackle properly he’ll end up talking to the faded curtains in a nursing home by the time he’s 50”
Again, no laughter. Just silence. I’m not getting this yet.
I’d love to know how many of those who made those record numbers have ever watched a local league rugby game? You’re argument about the soccer ignoring the local leagues is a pretty shit one considering how poorly supported lower level rugby is supported. The amount of people going on about the national team, and then in some cases Leinster or whatever, but they wouldnt go out the door to see any team below that. They’d probably not even bother going to see the other games either, but its easier to follow the rugby these days. Throw in a few aul cliches and you’re in with the bandwagon. It’s a hugely succesful marketing strategy, and they have got a shit load of people on board, and they are making the most of it, so fair dues. IF the money they can earn off the big teams can filter back to the grass roots, then they will be ok.
that said, I’d like to see Ireland do well, and I hope they do go well. But I’m not going to be disappointed or go on about it either whichever way it goes.
Domestic association football is particularly strong attendance-wise with thousands of people travelling to watch their respective teams in Liverpool and Manchester most weekends.
not sure, I actually think the club scene in GAA is pretty well attended, and I’d certainly know a lot who would go to a club game and not bother going to county games.
But in any case, I think rugby has a much larger difference of those following international and those following club, and it was a stupid stick to beat soccer followers with that they dont support their local league team.
You are also forgetting the schools which like it or not, are a big part of grassroots rugby
Of course you can beat soccer followers, they don’t turn up to internationals and don’t turn up to the national leagues. Even when the Irish rugby team are doing poorly you’ll get decent enough attendances for the rugby games
All sports have terrible support at lower levels. Don’t think that changes anywhere.
People.like the big occassion. All crowds are bloated by the floaters and event junkies. Hurling and football too. The Glen had a fucking humongous crowd at the Cork final last weekend. I doubt 1/10 of them were at the semi final.
There is a very strange snobbery with gaa people to such discussions that doesn’t stack up.
