There’s a pressing need for Irish fans to raise their game – we shouldn’t be outsung at home by the visitors, writes Gerry Thornley (via irishtimessport)
As at times before, during or after, you could have closed your eyes and imagined being in the Stade de France.
Of the 52,000 tickets for last Saturday’s game, 10,000 went to 10-year ticket holders, 2,500 to the IRFU’s commercial programme, 850 to corporate boxes, 2,000 to hospitality and 4,700 to the visiting union, in this case the French Federation.Clearly therefore, if the French managed to double their official allocation, roughly 5,000 additional tickets fell into their hands via the clubs.
But one of the knock-on effects is that fewer supporters are coming from Connacht, Munster and Ulster, and that has diluted the passion of the home support. After full-time, the French team were also quicker to acknowledge their fans, whereas the Irish team hesitated, and in the absence of any music at a time when it was most needed, most of the home fans had headed for the pubs.
Yet Ireland could conceivably be seeking to seal a first title in Dublin or, better still, a final leg of a Grand Slam for the first time ever in Dublin. It would be a shame if all we could here is Swing Low Sweet Chariot.
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