salmson wrote: The solution is fairly simple: turn the Havelock end into terracing, so the same with the lower deck of the East stand (opposite the cameras). This won't suit the football but the German solution of interchangeable standing/seating that can be turned around in hours would sort that. The tickets would be cheaper but you'd sell more, get some real fans in, and if anything increase the merchandise and refreshments sold.

I suspect that ship has sailed, but I'd agree completely with the idea of having terracing, with an option to install seats for the soccer, purely in the interest of increasing capacity and making cheaper tickets available.

Having said that, I don't think the problem is with the ground. Ireland international games don't generally generate a good atmosphere particularly on a Sunday afternoon. I went years without missing a game, and regardless of venue (old landsdown, Croke Park, or the Aviva) the atmosphere was mediocre at most of them. The notable exception being the England game in 2007. I listened the the discussion on the radio, and I think it would make sense to close the bars 10 minutes before kick off at the Aviva, just to get people into their seats.

Couple things:

1: When I signed up for my season ticket this year I signed up my brother and brother-in-law. So with discounts our tickets cost us about 175 quid each. So for a Connacht game it costs me about 30 quid: 10 euro petrol, 13 quid a ticket, 4 quid for a Murphys and 3 for chips. Add another 15 if I bring my 2 oldest kids, for parking in the council, chips, hot chocolates (U12s are free for many games).

How much would Sunday have cost me? 60-100 quid for a ticket, 50 for petrol, fiver for a pint, whatever for food; most of the cost of my season ticket basically.

2: A mate of mine still has his season ticket for the soccer (I used to have one when I lived in Dublin). He says the best atmosphere he's seen in the Aviva was at the college football, when there were marching bands and entertainment and so on. - manufactured atmosphere. Basically they knocked down a charismatic old dump and built an American football stadium, of all bloody things, in its place.




The solution is fairly simple: turn the Havelock end into terracing, so the same with the lower deck of the East stand (opposite the cameras). This won't suit the football but the German solution of interchangeable standing/seating that can be turned around in hours would sort that. The tickets would be cheaper but you'd sell more, get some real fans in, and if anything increase the merchandise and refreshments sold.

First of all a Sunday kick off, second of all the Irish players gave little for the Irish fans to get their teeth into with mistakes / handling errors ruining every promising move.

However, on a broader point I think its mainly down to a large portion of the crowd that populate the Aviva, like most big events in Ireland the people getting tickets for these kind of matches aren't at matches week in week out at club or provincial level and aren't going to get too bothered anyway.

When half the crowd are casually interested its hard for the rest to create much of an atmosphere.
Its in stark contrast to the likes of Cardiff where every game is an occasion. The Welsh regions might be a disaster but when the national team plays everyone is pulling together. With Ireland you feel with everything now there is interprovincial bullshit in the background at any time when things aren't going well.

i suppose this is the right place for it. off the ball last night, quinlan, thornley and emmet byrne talking about the fans that now show up to the aviva, i agree with them!

www.newstalk.ie/Rugby-on-Off-the-Ball--W...ith-Irish-rugby-fans

Off the Ball's rugby experts discuss the failures of the Aviva crowd last Sunday

Alan Quinlan wrote an article in The Irish Times yesterday concerning the absence of an atmosphere - both before and during the game - at the Aviva stadium last Sunday, for the Ireland versus England Six Nations game. The article, unsurprisingly, got a big reaction and long before last night’s instalment of Wednesday Night Rugby on Off the Ball listeners were texting in to make their feelings known on the issue.

Gerry Thornley and Emmet Byrne joined Quinlan on last night’s show and there was a general consensus – the Aviva stadium lacks the atmosphere of the old Lansdowne. But the question was - what’s to blame?

Is it the modern facilities? Was the Sunday kick off time to blame? Has the profile of the Irish rugby fan changed? Are people more concerned with staying dry and getting a pint than watching Ireland play England?

With McCarthy looking like he's out, DOC will likely replace him at (TH) lock. Who do we have who can cover TH side of scrum for the banch - Stevenson plays LH side and the less said about Toner's scrumaging the better.... ?

Shirley Yoda will go with Henderson over Ruddock, fitness permitting.

You would hope so.

connachtexile wrote: I actually think that trimble's tackling is one of the weaker points in his game. He seems to go in to high which makes it easier him to be handed off. I wonder who will go in for O'Mahoney if he doesn't make it? You'd assume Henry with O'Brien moving to six but Ruddock on the bench? Not sure about that.

Have to disagree with you on that one Sir in regard to his D, for me that would be one of his strongest attributes. One example would be the night at Ravenhill in the HC against Leicester last season (2011), Trimbs absolutely owned Alesana Tuilagi in both attack and defense and for me hasn't dropped off that since.

Shirley Yoda will go with Henderson over Ruddock, fitness permitting.

I actually think that trimble's tackling is one of the weaker points in his game. He seems to go in to high which makes it easier him to be handed off. I wonder who will go in for O'Mahoney if he doesn't make it? You'd assume Henry with O'Brien moving to six but Ruddock on the bench? Not sure about that.

I agree. He was originally a centre. I think he would make a great 12, nothing would get past him.

Wasrednowgreen wrote: God bless us but Tremble was so poor when I saw him play for the Wolfhounds against England recently. Absolutely terrible , looked like he had last his was a bit. Maybe he's one of those lads who, when he's on form, he's really on form & visa versa ?

Interesting that only about 18 months ago the three main young players everyone was talking about were Zebo , O'Hallaran and Griffin. Our two lads , injuries etc, have dropped off from that page & Zebo has 'kicked' on...........

When Trimbs has a white jersey on he has been one of the form players in Ireland consistently over the last 2 years. It's so weird that when he puts on an green jersey he plays so consistently below the level we all know he can.

One of my favourite players, I really hope he can get it together in an Irish shirt soon.

God bless us but Tremble was so poor when I saw him play for the Wolfhounds against England recently. Absolutely terrible , looked like he had last his was a bit. Maybe he's one of those lads who, when he's on form, he's really on form & visa versa ?

Interesting that only about 18 months ago the three main young players everyone was talking about were Zebo , O'Hallaran and Griffin. Our two lads , injuries etc, have dropped off from that page & Zebo has 'kicked' on...........

Gordon D'Arcy and Keith Earls Ireland biggest injury worries
Updated: Tuesday, 05 Feb 2013 14:56 | 1 Comments
1 Comments

Keith Earls is a doubt for Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Aviva Stadium
Gordon D'Arcy and Keith Earls are Ireland's biggest injury concerns for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Aviva Stadium.
Team manager Mick Kearney insists the Irish backroom staff are "guarded" over the duo's chances of participating after D'Arcy suffered a dead leg and Earls incurred a shoulder problem during Saturday's 30-22 victory over Wales.
"Gordon suffered a nasty dead leg but is recovering better than we expected," Kearney said.
"The prognosis is still guarded but we are more hopeful than we were yesterday. He will do modified training today and tomorrow.
"Keith took a blow to his left shoulder that was quite sore. The prognosis is guarded.
"He will do modified training today and tomorrow and will be reviewed by a specialist tomorrow."
Peter O'Mahony was concussed at the Millennium Stadium but has improved rapidly and is in line to play against England, subject to International Rugby Board concussion guidelines.
"Peter took a bang to the head in a tackle and is being treated as concussion. He was fine after the game and was well today," Kearney said.
"He'll follow the IRB return to playing guidelines and it depends on how he recovers during the week."
Brian O'Driscoll and Mike Ross played a full part in training today after suffering a head wound and severe cramp respectively against Wales, while Rob Kearney is available for Sunday despite his bruised back.
Connacht full-back Robbie Henshaw, Leinster back row Rhys Ruddock, Ulster centre Darren Cave and Ulster wing Andrew Trimble have been called up as cover.

33 man training squad:

Ireland training squad: Michael Bent, Rory Best, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Declan Fitzpatrick, Craig Gilroy, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Paddy Jackson, Rob Kearney, David Kilcoyne, Conor Murray, Mike McCarthy, Kevin McLaughlin, Fergus McFadden, Dave McSharry, Sean O’Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Peter O'Mahony, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Jonathan Sexton, Mike Sherry, Devin Toner, Simon Zebo

Great to see McSharry called up to the real actual Ireland training squad, hopefully he's not just there to make up the numbers. A little hard on Henshaw but he's only played 15 as a pro so it would be asking a lot of him to fill in any other position as a possible bench option. Plus the u-20s will surely want him considering the form he's in.

Did anyone see this part of the I.T. article

Of the six uncapped players, the name of Lewis Stevenson will be most unfamiliar to Irish supporters. The second row has been on Ulster’s books since 2005, having graduated from their academy, but despite making 37 appearances for the province has always been on the fringes.

That's good research that is. They'll be telling us about an up and comer called Stephen Ferris next.

P.S. Good to see Hemshaw and McSharry get some recognition. Can only do there confidence a world of help.

yea thats doing the rounds all day. seemingly kidney said it today that bod wud play v saxons next week.

dont know how true this gossip about george and rog is. generally most irish gossip of this natural is false in the main.

i do know that conor george is not popular at all in munster supporters circles. there is even a thread on munsterfans advocating all reference to the man being banned from the site.