Late Kickoff at the Millennium, why ?

6 minutes late according to the broadcaster. What was all that about ? Was anything achieved ?

England didn't want to come out onto the pitch and be left waiting by Wales who were still in the changing rooms. So they stood waiting just before the tunnel.

The ref came in and said that if Wales didn't come out with in a minute they were welcome to walk back into the changing rooms.

What were Wales worried about ?

don't think they were worried lol

Probably just mind games, make the English wait on the pitch and soak in the atmosphere of the welsh crowd.

Brilliant. As good as winning the actual game.
[sarcastic face]

Let me think when was the last time we tried something similar oh yeah we made the All Blacks do the haka in the changing room - that worked out really well to lol

Yeah these kinds of stunts usually motivate the away team...martin johnson in Ireland was particularly memorable

Is kind of what I would expect from gatland though.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Let me think when was the last time we tried something similar oh yeah we made the All Blacks do the haka in the changing room - that worked out really well to lol

To be fair, that wasn't Wales' fault. We asked to sing the anthem in response to the Haka to mark the anniversary of doing so 100 years previously, which was the first time a national anthem was sung at an international sporting event, but New Zealand threw a bit of a tantrum.

I love the tradition of the Haka, but New Zealand threw their toys out of the pram that day, they are no more important than any other rugby nation.

Scrub round national anthems, hakas, red carpets and handshakes with greasy politicians and the whole nonsensical panoply.   Just get out there and play rugby.

Also, what was that rubbish with lasers and red lights and jets of flame and everything else  all about?   Were England supposed to be intimidated by it all..?  Were they supposed to think that there were real live dragons waiting for them out on the pitch..?   Ooooo, scary. Not.

If Wales need that crap to get them up for the game, then they need to look at their motivation for playing.   And if the Welsh fans want all that, then I'd say they're going to the match for the wrong reason.

The Fourth Lion wrote:Scrub round national anthems, hakas, red carpets and handshakes with greasy politicians and the whole nonsensical panoply.   Just get out there and play rugby.

Also, what was that rubbish with lasers and red lights and jets of flame and everything else  all about?   Were England supposed to be intimidated by it all..?  Were they supposed to think that there were real live dragons waiting for them out on the pitch..?   Ooooo, scary. Not.

If Wales need that crap to get them up for the game, then they need to look at their motivation for playing.   And if the Welsh fans want all that, then I'd say they're going to the match for the wrong reason.

The light show and fireworks are all part n parcel of the spectacle now that goes with it, they all do it.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:Scrub round national anthems, hakas, red carpets and handshakes with greasy politicians and the whole nonsensical panoply.   Just get out there and play rugby.

Also, what was that rubbish with lasers and red lights and jets of flame and everything else  all about?   Were England supposed to be intimidated by it all..?  Were they supposed to think that there were real live dragons waiting for them out on the pitch..?   Ooooo, scary. Not.

If Wales need that crap to get them up for the game, then they need to look at their motivation for playing.   And if the Welsh fans want all that, then I'd say they're going to the match for the wrong reason.

The light show and fireworks are all part n parcel of the spectacle now that goes with it, they all do it.  

I am in no doubt that you are right in what you say. I simply don't like it. I don't think it's necessary and it doesn't add anything to the game.

What's wrong with just going to watch a game of rugby..?

The Fourth Lion wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:Scrub round national anthems, hakas, red carpets and handshakes with greasy politicians and the whole nonsensical panoply.   Just get out there and play rugby.

Also, what was that rubbish with lasers and red lights and jets of flame and everything else  all about?   Were England supposed to be intimidated by it all..?  Were they supposed to think that there were real live dragons waiting for them out on the pitch..?   Ooooo, scary. Not.

If Wales need that crap to get them up for the game, then they need to look at their motivation for playing.   And if the Welsh fans want all that, then I'd say they're going to the match for the wrong reason.

The light show and fireworks are all part n parcel of the spectacle now that goes with it, they all do it.  

I am in no doubt that you are right in what you say.  I simply don't like it.  I don't think it's necessary and it doesn't add anything to the game.

What's wrong with just going to watch a game of rugby..?  

It adds to the experience for the average fan. I for one love seeing all the hype, it gets the fans excited and passionate. The Millennium Stadium in particular is renowned for its atmosphere, you'll find all kinds of people turning up to the game just to experience it. Surely you can see how that is a good thing for our minority sport? The more people we can attract the better.

I particularly like the Murrayfield atmosphere these days and when the crowd just finish off the anthem without the bagpipes etc it does give me goosebumps.

bedfordwelsh wrote:I particularly like the Murrayfield atmosphere these days and when the crowd just finish off the anthem without the bagpipes etc it does give me goosebumps.

Not been to Murrayfield since the Toulouse-Stade Francais HC Final. At the time it was a desperately tired and run down stadium. Matched the game perfectly though.

LondonTiger wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:I particularly like the Murrayfield atmosphere these days and when the crowd just finish off the anthem without the bagpipes etc it does give me goosebumps.

Not been to Murrayfield since the Toulouse-Stade Francais HC Final. At the time it was a desperately tired and run down stadium. Matched the game perfectly though.

Stadium is getting old now but the atmosphere is still very good

Only when Scotland playing I guess. Far and away my least favourite ground.

CurlyOsp wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:Scrub round national anthems, hakas, red carpets and handshakes with greasy politicians and the whole nonsensical panoply.   Just get out there and play rugby.

Also, what was that rubbish with lasers and red lights and jets of flame and everything else  all about?   Were England supposed to be intimidated by it all..?  Were they supposed to think that there were real live dragons waiting for them out on the pitch..?   Ooooo, scary. Not.

If Wales need that crap to get them up for the game, then they need to look at their motivation for playing.   And if the Welsh fans want all that, then I'd say they're going to the match for the wrong reason.

The light show and fireworks are all part n parcel of the spectacle now that goes with it, they all do it.  

I am in no doubt that you are right in what you say.  I simply don't like it.  I don't think it's necessary and it doesn't add anything to the game.

What's wrong with just going to watch a game of rugby..?  

It adds to the experience for the average fan. I for one love seeing all the hype, it gets the fans excited and passionate. The Millennium Stadium in particular is renowned for its atmosphere, you'll find all kinds of people turning up to the game just to experience it. Surely you can see how that is a good thing for our minority sport? The more people we can attract the better.

I understand these arguments and I can see where you're coming from. But you say the "average fan". What do you mean by that..?

Just who is the "average fan"? Somebody who feels this is necessary because seeing an international rugby match between two hard-core adversaries isn't enough?

Now, I reckon England vs Wales could sell the Millennium out several times over with fans whose hearts are almost thumping out of their chests at the prospect of the match alone. Do we really need these "average fan" types putting their backsides down on much sought after seats, when there are plenty of genuinely passionate fans out there who would give their back teeth to be at that match.?

Will those "average fans" be at their local club next Saturday? Probably not. How many cherry pickers were in the Millennium on Friday, who were there more because it's an "event".... the "hottest ticket in town?" I was at England vs New Zealand at Twickenham a couple of seasons ago, sitting next to a couple who didn't have the faintest clue what they were watching, but said they were having a "super time". Two tickets wasted that could have gone to genuine fans who would have loved to be at that game.

This "entertainment" only serves to engender that sort of shallow interest in the game.

I know the usual arguments about "They pay their money, they're entitled to be entertained". Heard it all before. Perhaps I am an old stick in the mud. I make no apologies for that. I just think rugby is headed in a direction "genuine fans", as distinct from the "average" kind would rather it didn't.

I must admit with regards the MS i do prefer the atmosphere in the old Arms Park as it was in the whole filled with real fans who played the game and supported the clubs.

The MS is a fantastic stadium and in an un enviable position but sometimes that's its worst point as well due to fact it attracts those who have little or no interest in the game.

Please don't forget the BBC factor. I'm pretty sure as the broadcaster of all that guff that we saw that they had their input into it. They may have even funded it. It seemed very similar to the Murrayfield v England pre game stuff. The Beeb probably just have a big lazer kit bus they take on the road to these fixtures!

The Fourth Lion wrote:

CurlyOsp wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

The Fourth Lion wrote:Scrub round national anthems, hakas, red carpets and handshakes with greasy politicians and the whole nonsensical panoply.   Just get out there and play rugby.

Also, what was that rubbish with lasers and red lights and jets of flame and everything else  all about?   Were England supposed to be intimidated by it all..?  Were they supposed to think that there were real live dragons waiting for them out on the pitch..?   Ooooo, scary. Not.

If Wales need that crap to get them up for the game, then they need to look at their motivation for playing.   And if the Welsh fans want all that, then I'd say they're going to the match for the wrong reason.

The light show and fireworks are all part n parcel of the spectacle now that goes with it, they all do it.  

I am in no doubt that you are right in what you say.  I simply don't like it.  I don't think it's necessary and it doesn't add anything to the game.

What's wrong with just going to watch a game of rugby..?  

It adds to the experience for the average fan. I for one love seeing all the hype, it gets the fans excited and passionate. The Millennium Stadium in particular is renowned for its atmosphere, you'll find all kinds of people turning up to the game just to experience it. Surely you can see how that is a good thing for our minority sport? The more people we can attract the better.

I understand these arguments and I can see where you're coming from.  But you say the "average fan".     What do you mean by that..?  

Just who is the "average fan"?   Somebody who feels this is necessary because seeing an international rugby match between two hard-core adversaries isn't enough?

Now, I reckon England vs Wales could sell the Millennium out several times over with fans whose hearts are almost thumping out of their chests at the prospect of the match alone.  Do we really need these "average fan" types putting their backsides down on much sought after seats, when there are plenty of genuinely passionate fans out there who would give their back teeth to be at that match.?

Will those "average fans" be at their local club next Saturday?   Probably not.   How many cherry pickers were in the Millennium on Friday, who were there more because it's an "event".... the "hottest ticket in town?"   I was at England vs New Zealand at Twickenham a couple of seasons ago, sitting next to a couple who didn't have the faintest clue what they were watching, but said they were having a "super time".  Two tickets wasted that could have gone to genuine fans who would have loved to be at that game.

This "entertainment" only serves to engender that sort of shallow interest in the game.

I know the usual arguments about "They pay their money, they're entitled to be entertained".  Heard it all before.  Perhaps I am an old stick in the mud.  I make no apologies for that.   I just think rugby is headed in a direction "genuine fans", as distinct from the "average" kind would rather it didn't.    

Can we really fill it with them though? I've regularly been to regional matches that struggle to fill half a stadium at quarter of the size and Judgement Days where two welsh derbies can't attract even 40,000 fans.

Without wanting to sound facetious, these 'passionate fans' as you call them aren't there because they don't want to be there. The way I understand it is that the majority of tickets are sold through local rugby clubs to those who really appreciate rugby, they get first pick.

Besides, who says you can't enjoy both? I love rugby in its purest form, but also love the drama and theatricality that comes hand in hand with internationals and so does everyone that I tend to meet at the games. Yes, there are people there there who don't have a clue about rugby and some who don't really care, but I grew up believing rugby was a social sport and these events should be ones that you take your family and friends to because you want to share that special feeling with them.

No offence intended, but outdated beliefs hold the game back. Stubborn refusal to support the regions killed our game at club level and I fear that the same could happen to the international game if we don't move with the times.

Griff wrote:Please don't forget the BBC factor. I'm pretty sure as the broadcaster of all that guff that we saw that they had their input into it. They may have even funded it. It seemed very similar to the Murrayfield v England pre game stuff. The Beeb probably just have a big lazer kit bus they take on the road to these fixtures!

I don't think the BBC have any input what so ever. The MS has always been like that

The nonsense at Murrayfield is really tiresome. Pillocks dressed up like extras from Braveheart Wee weeing about with fire on the end of a rope. What has that got to do with rugby?

Just get on with the game. No anthems. No hakas. Just rugby.

I must be getting old and grumpy as I have to admit I'd rather they just got on with it too. I don't mind the anthems, although unfortunately I think we (England) have the least inspiring but it does have the benefit of being brief, rather than some that seem to go on for ages. Also at the risk of getting slated I find the hakas a bit tedious now.

CurlyOsp wrote:

To be fair, that wasn't Wales' fault. We asked to sing the anthem in response to the Haka to mark the anniversary of doing so 100 years previously, which was the first time a national anthem was sung at an international sporting event, but New Zealand threw a bit of a tantrum.

I love the tradition of the Haka, but New Zealand threw their toys out of the pram that day, they are no more important than any other rugby nation.

Might want to go and check your facts on that one. I'll give you a clue, 2006 wasn't 100 years after 1905.

goneagain wrote:

CurlyOsp wrote:

To be fair, that wasn't Wales' fault. We asked to sing the anthem in response to the Haka to mark the anniversary of doing so 100 years previously, which was the first time a national anthem was sung at an international sporting event, but New Zealand threw a bit of a tantrum.

I love the tradition of the Haka, but New Zealand threw their toys out of the pram that day, they are no more important than any other rugby nation.

Might want to go and check your facts on that one. I'll give you a clue, 2006 wasn't 100 years after 1905.

My bad, they had let us perform it in response in 2005. Nevertheless it was in pretty bad taste to deny the fans a Haka, considering that we don't have to let them perform the haka before every match they could have done us the courtesy of allowing us to respond. They have their traditions, we should have ours.

What is really ridiculous about this whole episode is that, the away team always has to wait until the home team comes out, EVERY TEAM does it, and why didn't England do as Wales did and wear track suit tops.
Hopefully what was said on Scrum V earlier, that both teams would be walking out side by side in the future will be brought in.

wayne wrote:What is really ridiculous about this whole episode is that, the away team always has to wait until the home team comes out, EVERY TEAM does it, and why didn't England do as Wales did and wear track suit tops.
Hopefully what was said on Scrum V earlier, that both teams would be walking out side by side in the future will be brought in.  

No need for that.  The game can handle a little 'showmanship'... it doesn't have to be unadulterated business grey the full seven days a week.  A little theatre isn't a bad thing.

All that the ritual requires is that neither side tries to milk  the theatre - as that just becomes juvenile schit.  So to both sides - the game is in the playing of it, not the song and dance routines before hand or the 'psychological warfare' that goes on during the week before the game.  

The home side should be allowed hold onto the privilege of being last onto the field - but simply please don't childishly milk it.  As we've seen, it's no guarantee of a result - the fireworks and lightshow and singing was enough pre-fight build up.  The crowd were fired up enough - they didn't need the extra spice.

SecretFly wrote:

wayne wrote:What is really ridiculous about this whole episode is that, the away team always has to wait until the home team comes out, EVERY TEAM does it, and why didn't England do as Wales did and wear track suit tops.
Hopefully what was said on Scrum V earlier, that both teams would be walking out side by side in the future will be brought in.  

No need for that.  The game can handle a little 'showmanship'... it doesn't have to be unadulterated business grey the full seven days a week.  A little theatre isn't a bad thing.

All that the ritual requires is that neither side tries to milk  the theatre - as that just becomes juvenile schit.  So to both sides - the game is in the playing of it, not the song and dance routines before hand or the 'psychological warfare' that goes on during the week before the game.  

The home side should be allowed hold onto the privilege of being last onto the field - but simply please don't childishly milk it.  As we've seen, it's no guarantee of a result - the fireworks and lightshow and singing was enough pre-fight build up.  The crowd were fired up enough - they didn't need the extra spice.

Well that was 3 paragraphs, that was worth nothing, as as I said it is changing, and quite right to.

wayne wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

wayne wrote:What is really ridiculous about this whole episode is that, the away team always has to wait until the home team comes out, EVERY TEAM does it, and why didn't England do as Wales did and wear track suit tops.
Hopefully what was said on Scrum V earlier, that both teams would be walking out side by side in the future will be brought in.  

No need for that.  The game can handle a little 'showmanship'... it doesn't have to be unadulterated business grey the full seven days a week.  A little theatre isn't a bad thing.

All that the ritual requires is that neither side tries to milk  the theatre - as that just becomes juvenile schit.  So to both sides - the game is in the playing of it, not the song and dance routines before hand or the 'psychological warfare' that goes on during the week before the game.  

The home side should be allowed hold onto the privilege of being last onto the field - but simply please don't childishly milk it.  As we've seen, it's no guarantee of a result - the fireworks and lightshow and singing was enough pre-fight build up.  The crowd were fired up enough - they didn't need the extra spice.

Well that was 3 paragraphs, that was worth nothing, as as I said it is changing, and quite right to.

Thanks for the one sentence rebuttal Wayne
Grey wins out so.  

Now let's go the full monty and ban the schyte fireworks and lightworks then?  Oh and the anthems.  
Actually the combined walk-out lends itself to even more schmaltz and showy fanfare than the current system.  But I guess football needs to be followed slavishly by the new rugby elite at World Rugby

paul james face in the tunnel said it all. robshaw refused to take the field while only the welsh bench was in the tunnel. and paul james trying to stare it out showed that it was a deliberate Gat-ploy. else why would only your bench be in the tunnel? surely whatever last word Gats wheezed out would be valuable to the whole 23?

thankfully it was only a very small storm in a teacup.

100% agree wayne, teams should walk out alongside each other. and teams shouldnt be forced to stand opposite the haka either. the psychological one-upmanship has to stop. it's embarrassing. no coincidence the kiwi common denominator btw...

quinsforever wrote:paul james face in the tunnel said it all. robshaw refused to take the field while only the welsh bench was in the tunnel. and paul james trying to stare it out showed that it was a deliberate Gat-ploy. else why would only your bench be in the tunnel? surely whatever last word Gats wheezed out would be valuable to the whole 23?

thankfully it was only a very small storm in a teacup.

100% agree wayne, teams should walk out alongside each other. and teams shouldnt be forced to stand opposite the haka either. the psychological one-upmanship has to stop. it's embarrassing. no coincidence the kiwi common denominator btw...

Quins, it is NOT a new thing that there is only one team in the tunnel, it is the NORM, all teams have taken advantage of it, even you precious lot, and the sooner it ends the better, IIRC they walk out TOGETHER, at RWC matches.

quinsforever wrote:paul james face in the tunnel said it all. robshaw refused to take the field while only the welsh bench was in the tunnel. and paul james trying to stare it out showed that it was a deliberate Gat-ploy. else why would only your bench be in the tunnel? surely whatever last word Gats wheezed out would be valuable to the whole 23?

thankfully it was only a very small storm in a teacup.

100% agree wayne, teams should walk out alongside each other. and teams shouldnt be forced to stand opposite the haka either. the psychological one-upmanship has to stop. it's embarrassing. no coincidence the kiwi common denominator btw...

Next thing you know they'll be using fake blood in the tunnel, eh quins!

Gwlad wrote:

quinsforever wrote:paul james face in the tunnel said it all. robshaw refused to take the field while only the welsh bench was in the tunnel. and paul james trying to stare it out showed that it was a deliberate Gat-ploy. else why would only your bench be in the tunnel? surely whatever last word Gats wheezed out would be valuable to the whole 23?

thankfully it was only a very small storm in a teacup.

100% agree wayne, teams should walk out alongside each other. and teams shouldnt be forced to stand opposite the haka either. the psychological one-upmanship has to stop. it's embarrassing. no coincidence the kiwi common denominator btw...

Next thing you know they'll be using fake blood in the tunnel, eh quins!

Well it's more gentlemanly than real blood, innit?  At least nobody gets hurt using a capsule.  Rugby has become too manly in recent years and needs a good honest dose of 'fair is fair' feminisation.

Just to add, if there is one match, that doesn't need the hype ANYWHERE in the world it is this match, the money wasted on that, could have helped save a couple of junior clubs within 10 miles of where I'm sitting right now.

I'm sure it was innocent enough, possibly the Welsh boys were queued behind Rhys Webb who was taking an age to get to the door...

...or maybe the lightshow blew a fuse in the dressing rooms and the Welsh guys couldn't find the exit?

wayne wrote:Just to add, if there is one match, that doesn't need the hype ANYWHERE in the world it is this match, the money wasted on that, could have helped save a couple of junior clubs within 10 miles of where I'm sitting right now.  

I thought the light show was awesome, what was bloody incomprehensible and stupid was the delay in coming out of the tunnel. just pathetic hubris and Wales were justifiably hoisted by their own petard for it.

Gwlad wrote:

wayne wrote:Just to add, if there is one match, that doesn't need the hype ANYWHERE in the world it is this match, the money wasted on that, could have helped save a couple of junior clubs within 10 miles of where I'm sitting right now.  

I thought the light show was awesome, what was bloody incomprehensible and stupid was the delay in coming out of the tunnel. just pathetic hubris and Wales were justifiably hoisted by their own petard for it.

I don't mind the pyrotechnics either.  But that's all show.  As was the one-upsmanship in the tunnel.  Designed to be a show - for the crowds, as it's the crowds that were the active ingredient in determining the meaning of the tunnel hassles in the first place.

I guess I'm just pointing out that it's all a show - which is great - it gets the juices flowing. It's just that some of the actors maybe milk it that little bit too long.  It's like the pause before the smart punchline - you have to time it well or people lose interest half way through the pause.

SecretFly wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

wayne wrote:Just to add, if there is one match, that doesn't need the hype ANYWHERE in the world it is this match, the money wasted on that, could have helped save a couple of junior clubs within 10 miles of where I'm sitting right now.  

I thought the light show was awesome, what was bloody incomprehensible and stupid was the delay in coming out of the tunnel. just pathetic hubris and Wales were justifiably hoisted by their own petard for it.

I don't mind the pyrotechnics either.  But that's all show.  As was the one-upsmanship in the tunnel.  Designed to be a show - for the crowds, as it's the crowds that were the active ingredient in determining the meaning of the tunnel hassles in the first place.

I guess I'm just pointing out that it's all a show - which is great - it gets the juices flowing.  It's just that some of the actors maybe milk it that little bit too long.  It's like the pause before the smart punchline - you have to time it well or people lose interest half way through the pause.

Yep, sounds just like my wife's description of Saturday morning in bed

I was disappointed to hear the crowd booing the national anthems and the England lads though. I know people will tell me it happens everywhere, but the answer is it shouldn't happen anywhere, and we have to call it out each and every time.

If crowds can't make their own atmosphere through passion and support for their own team then using pyrotechnics and light shows to whip them into a frenzy is encouraging the wrong crowd to attend.

Real rugby fans wouldn't boo the opposition, or the national anthem of our great United nation.

i would gladly hear our national anthem booed every time we play away. cant imagine anything more likely to get you fired up and make the home side slightly embarrassed/diffident.

can you imagine how england players wearing white will feel when their anthem and their badge is being booed? worth a churchill speech imo.

quinsforever wrote:i would gladly hear our national anthem booed every time we play away. cant imagine anything more likely to get you fired up and make the home side slightly embarrassed/diffident.

can you imagine how england players wearing white will feel when their anthem and their badge is being booed? worth a churchill speech imo.

I guess we have to enjoy our liberties to freedom of expression before they are taken away by the liberal lefties, maybe you're right.

I was embarrassed by the booing of the English team as they came out and also that the only singing i heard was the old slavery song. But then Wales predictable performance did not deserve any vocal accompaniment other than a chant of 'You're xxxx and you know we know you are'

nathan wrote:

Griff wrote:Please don't forget the BBC factor. I'm pretty sure as the broadcaster of all that guff that we saw that they had their input into it. They may have even funded it. It seemed very similar to the Murrayfield v England pre game stuff. The Beeb probably just have a big lazer kit bus they take on the road to these fixtures!

I don't think the BBC have any input what so ever. The MS has always been like that

The MS has always been like what? The lazer show? Absolutely not. It's a relatively recent thing. As are the flames.

TheRugbyMaster wrote:

quinsforever wrote:i would gladly hear our national anthem booed every time we play away. cant imagine anything more likely to get you fired up and make the home side slightly embarrassed/diffident.

can you imagine how england players wearing white will feel when their anthem and their badge is being booed? worth a churchill speech imo.

I guess we have to enjoy our liberties to freedom of expression before they are taken away by the liberal lefties, maybe you're right.

Boys, you're opening a can of worms here and IIRC it has been debated on here before, whatever game I attend I clap on both teams at the beginning and at the start of the second half, obviously more vociferously for my team and don't condone any booing of any anthem.

Perhaps the WRU should have had the "light show" at the start of the second half as well as they might have turned up for it, rather than getting nilled.

England matches at Twickenham don't havr the ridiculous pre match "show" that Murrayfield and the Millenium Stadium have. There is no need for it, it's about the players on pitch, not some tacky "entertainment" that has nothing to do with rugby.

TheRugbyMaster wrote:I was disappointed to hear the crowd booing the national anthems and the England lads though. I know people will tell me it happens everywhere, but the answer is it shouldn't happen anywhere, and we have to call it out each and every time.

If crowds can't make their own atmosphere through passion and support for their own team then using pyrotechnics and light shows to whip them into a frenzy is encouraging the wrong crowd to attend.

Real rugby fans wouldn't boo the opposition, or the national anthem of our great United nation.

I agree it is a terrible thing to boo another country or nation's anthem.  Disrespectful and classless.  And this is the anthem of the United Kingdom.  

I also agree with some of the other comments that this cannot be enforced or regulated.  We have a right to boo if we feel.  But that doesn't make it right.

I watched the game at home in my lounge, just me and the wife so I could hear the tv very well. I heard a few jeers before the English anthem started. I like to think they were sort of ironic jeers rather than full on boos. Yes, there is a difference IMO. During it though I could only hear singing - the band and the crowd - but no booing to my ears. It must have been drowned out. When it stopped I didn't hear any booing. And then the Welsh one started. Maybe people at the game could give us more insight. But where was all the booing other people were hearing? On the TV too?

[quote="doctor_grey"]

TheRugbyMaster wrote:I was disappointed to hear the crowd booing the national anthems and the England lads though. I know people will tell me it happens everywhere, but the answer is it shouldn't happen anywhere, and we have to call it out each and every time.

If crowds can't make their own atmosphere through passion and support for their own team then using pyrotechnics and light shows to whip them into a frenzy is encouraging the wrong crowd to attend.

Real rugby fans wouldn't boo the opposition, or the national anthem of our great United nation.

I agree it is a terrible thing to boo another country or nation's anthem.  Disrespectful and classless.  And this is the anthem of the United Kingdom.
Yes it is a terrible thing to boo another Nations anthem, but as I alluded to earlier it has been debated on here before. It is NOT the English National Anthem, it is as you say the Anthem of the UK, You have NO right whatsoever to portray this as YOURS, when England participate in Commonwealth Games you use LOHAG or Jerusalem.
 

wayne, the welsh team could use it too. we wouldnt mind. would be nice