Compiled by GAVIN CUMMISKEY:
Letting supporters bring drinks out to their seats might be considered
STRANGELY, and certainly for the first time in memory, the attendance wasn’t announced over the PA system at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening. We found out on Sunday it was 35,517, significantly down on the 50,000 expected for the first game back at Lansdowne Road.
“It’s reality and is something everyone has to look at in terms of getting pricing right. We need the supporters more than ever. We miss them,” Ronan O’Gara said.
Just before kick-off and for a good 10 minutes into the second half it looked like a crowd of around 25,000 as people are not allowed bring alcohol back to their seats. The cold snap ensured thousands of punters stayed indoors on the concourse watching the game on the small television screens.
Stadium director Martin Murphy, when asked a few weeks back, stated allowing punters to drink in their seats is something that might be considered as there is precedent for this at other stadiums.
We know Lewis Moody can be a nuisance but a few All Blacks took particular exception to his enthusiasm around the breakdown on Saturday as the English captain tried to pilfer New Zealand ball.
Replays show Keven Mealamu and Jerome Kaino smashing up the English captain in either half. Kaino delivered at least three clean blows at the bottom of a ruck, while Mealamu led with a flying head butt.
Mealamu was yesterday cited for allegedly striking an opponent with his head, citing commissioner John West announced.
Samoa are up this week but the focus is already on the All Blacks match on November 20th with their sponsors, Adidas, in conjunction with Elverys Sports, giving five Irish children (aged between 10 and 12) the opportunity to spent a day in the New Zealand camp.
Children must convince former All Black record try scorer and current Munster winger Doug Howlett why they deserve the opportunity. Check out www.elverys.ie. Entries must be less than 100 words. The closing date for submission is Wednesday.
NOT A good day for Puma and the commemorative jerseys they designed for the first game back at Irish rugby’s spiritual home.
First the props jerseys ripped, then the rest of the pack had to make on-field changes. By the second half the specially-designed jerseys were binned by the whole team.
The wardrobe malfunction fitted in neatly with the general malaise that was a forgettable (for many good reasons) return to Lansdowne Road.
Matfield is diplomatic
Irish rugby propping up the scrummaging problem
THE scrummaging problem in Irish rugby were exposed once again on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.
It follows on the heels of Munster confirming the arrival of Canterbury tighthead Peter Borlase after winning the NPC. He may feature against Australia tomorrow week at Thomond Park.
Leinster recently brought in another Kiwi, Clint Newland, on a short-term deal instead of exposing Jack McGrath or Stewart Maguire to first-team action on a more regular basis, while Connacht signed Rodney Ah You on an 18-month deal (which is better than anyone else in the squad).
The problem becomes more apparent considering Ulster (BJ Botha), Leinster (Heinke van der Merwe) and Munster (Wian du Preez) also have South African props on their rosters.
THE reaction from the Leinster and IRFU medical experts should prove interesting in the coming weeks, if there is any at all, after two Leinster hookers went public with the dangerous effects of concussion this week. John Fogarty and Bernard Jackman were forced to prematurely retire (as did Ronan McCormack due to a neck injury) having sustained multiple concussions throughout their careers. Both players admitted they played down the severity of their head injuries over the years but clearly the usage of the cognitive test system to allow players back on the field must be re-examined.The question that must now be asked is whether Irish players are being adequately protected from themselves and their desire to earn a living in the short term despite the threat of serious long-term brain problems?
Kaino getting Moody
Springboks all a twitter on first visit to new stadium
BAKKIES Botha and Victor Matfield have long been considered the best secondrow pairing in the world. Victor is the elegant, skilful king of the lineouts while Bakkies dishes out the punishment.
Both are phenomenal physical specimens. They are also chalk and cheese as their musings on Twitter confirmed this week.
“Aviva has nothing on Soweto’s stadium,” Botha tweeted after Friday’s captains run. “They don’t even check to see if you’re carrying a gun here. Madness!”
Matfield followed soon after with a more serious and diplomatic reaction to the new stadium: “Had a good run at Aviva stadium. Very nice stadium. It is a great honnor (sic) to play the opening game at this awesome stadium.”
At lunchtime on Saturday Matfield was, again, more positive: “Blue sky here in Ireland. That’s a first for me. Hopefully it will last till tonight.”
Bakkies was clearly not too happy with the weather: “It’s too cold here. Little bakkies will be in hibernation until the return to SA.”
We could hazard a guess about the identity of “little bakkies” but we won’t.
New jerseys sent packing
