Sir, - I wonder how many Irish rugby supporters left Lansdowne Road last Saturday feeling as despondent as I did. It was not that we had just watched Ireland slump to another humiliating defeat; it was the complete lack of atmosphere in the ground that astounded me. Even the Scots, normally the most vocal supporters, seemed strangely subdued.
There were not the usual renditions of Flower of Scotland or Molly Malone, nor anything more than half-hearted attempts at the Mexican wave. I put this down to two reasons:
Firstly, supporters have become disheartened by following teams that are no more than third- or fourth-division in world rankings. Secondly, and probably more importantly, the fact that the IRFU has installed video and audio equipment to bombard the poor supporters with ads and blaring music, thus stifling any vocal support or, for that matter, conversation. I appeal to the IRFU to give a little more thought to the paying punter rather than bowing to this blatant commercialism. - Yours, etc.,
From R. M. Stafford
Beech Court, Killiney, Co Dublin.