I remember some hand clapping started when there was either scrum or LO top left clan college rd side where they were stalling, maybe gray was going off at same time?

I thought ref got some ones very bad, no offsides and thought I saw one blatant in from side at maul time, we still kept ball and got going but no arm went out etc..

Not usually one for going mad at ref's due to knowing they are more qualified than me but at times I did find myself roaring almost subconsciously cos some things looked so wrong

Got a few questions answers from Shelflife after aswell which verified a few things that I was pretty sure I saw on pitch

Evil_g wrote: Anyone else think we're giving refs a bit too much grief? I can lose the run of myself as much as anyone, but I thought it was particularly bad last Saturday. And watching the game back I think the ref had a reasonable game.

We even booed a Toulouse player coming off for a HIA.

I wouldn't like us to get a reputation for it like some other teams in the Pro 12.

Only had the TV perspective and the only booing that could be heard was after some of the higher shots (and there were a few on the evening) that weren't challenged by Luke Pierce.
(Being European Rugby royalty gives you abut 8-10 inches of lee-way it appears. :whistle: )..

It is entirely possible that two events coincided, e.g.. Richie Gray going off while some supporters are venting displeasure at the ref seeing but not taking action against another ST high hit just before...

Where the refs aren't picking up dangerous play, I have no issue with supporters voicing their displeasure in support of the safety of their players.
There is enough support technologically for referees that they or their team (assistants/TMO) should be picking up obvious and continued foul play, IMO...especially at this level.

Foul mouthed abuse of referees or assistants on the other hand is a definite no-no though regardless of provocation...booing on the other hand is not going to offend a referee I assure you...

Yeah I don't know the exact time but there was one point it sounded OTT

I'm not saying the atmosphere wasn't great (it was), it's just that I counted a number of occasions, including Richie Gray going off, where I thought the booing was over the top. I was on the half way line in the clan and there was a large contingent slow hand clapping and booing to our right when he was coming off. It's possible, maybe even likely, that they were watching something else though. Maybe I'm the only one that noticed.

I thought the atmosphere was great. There was one boo in particular that I thought was OTT

A lot of it was due to Toulouses constant gamesmanship taking knees and the constant 22 penalties etc... But no real excuse for it.

A personal thing is I'd like to cheer our team instead of booing. something goes against Connacht start cheering Connacht not jeering the ref ya know?

Watched the game back and the ref had an absolute mare - mostly because he got absolutely no support from his touch-judges, who took the brunt of any abuse (which was tame and non-profane where I was stood). Nothing like a few years ago certainly. Repeated red zone offences without cards & free reign on forward passes for Toulouse, and Doussain spent the entire game several yards offside without punishment.

As to players being booed off I thought the only HIA was Gray and he certainly wasn't booed, perhaps I missed another in the excitement? There were a couple of occasions the ref was trying to get Toulouse players to get off the pitch to continue treatment when they were clearly just taking a knee to prevent the game restarting (right where a scrum or lineout was set to happen); didn't boo myself but if you're indulging in such obvious gamesmanship you have to expect a barracking. On the flip side when one of the Toulouse backs dived at Niyi's feet to stop him hacking through, he was applauded twice, once when it happened and again when the replay was shown.

Great game, great atmosphere, Toulouse fans were wonderfully vocal for a small group.

Anyone else think we're giving refs a bit too much grief? I can lose the run of myself as much as anyone, but I thought it was particularly bad last Saturday. And watching the game back I think the ref had a reasonable game.

We even booed a Toulouse player coming off for a HIA.

I wouldn't like us to get a reputation for it like some other teams in the Pro 12.

Is there any chance someone could get the Saw Doctors or some other local group on side with something original. Maybe even encompassing the Fields and the Icelandic chant.

MarinersBlues wrote: They should go back to the Wests Awake.
Everyone bought into that last year.
I am sick of the fields.

When I was at the first match and heard them singing the fileds, the superstitious instinct kicked in. I knew it was a bad Oman,again the next week. It has nothing to do with missing simple tackles its the song at the start. BRING BACK WEST AWAKE

Gotta say I really liked the half time music good energy to it. Nice mix of styles

Overall, I thought our support was much better, more engaged and a lot louder last night. There were moments during the game when the crowd clearly gave the team a lift.
A big step up on last week so well done to all supporters !

Why did the 2 lads sing The Fields of Athenry tonight? I know there are plenty of people who don't like The West's Awake but it was catching on at the end of last season. It's seems stupid to stick with it for so long and then ditch it just when the crowd started to join in a bit.

I'll sing The Fields of Athenry at the end of a match when we're coasting home. Everyone knows the words, we don't need 2 lads to sing it to us.

Shipping off to Boston is the single laziest attempt at build-up music this side of Fat Boy Slim's Right Here, Right Now. I hate it. Couldn't you just use Brewing Up a Storm instead?

House of pain "jump around"

Now that would get things going.

connemara man wrote: Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Pat Lam!!! Pat Lam!!!!!! Pat Lam!!!!!!!

Seriously ....

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Pat Lam!!! Pat Lam!!!!!! Pat Lam!!!!!!!