Rugby 2011

**Charlie Darwin** · 17/09/2011, 7:21 PM

The island of Ireland doesn't have a national anthem.

**old git** · 17/09/2011, 8:29 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

The island of Ireland doesn't have a national anthem.

ah hello charlie !!!! Amhr�n na bhFiann ( the soldiers song) is the national anthem of ireland .. soccer / boxing / swimming / tennis / rowing /athletics etc ,etc all seem to be proud to have it as their anthem . so what is the problem with an irish rugby team using it.

**BonnieShels** · 17/09/2011, 8:32 PM

Originally Posted by old git

must admt as a non rugby fan unbelieveable performance from ireland deserved to win by more my only little gripe is having no national anthem before game it has been replaced by irelands call personally i find it disrespectfull to us as a proud little nation.

The Team anthem as it's called is Irelands' Call.
Amhr�n na bhFiann is only played before our home games out of respect for the hosting jurisdiction.

Technically when we play (the odd time) in Ravenhill GSTQ should be played but it's a minefield.

I'd rather be rid of all of them so I don't have to stand for Irelands' Call at games.

"My Lovely Horse" would be the business.

this...

or

this...

You decide.

@ Charlie, the problem is that the island of Ireland has "too many" anthems.

**Charlie Darwin** · 17/09/2011, 9:09 PM

Originally Posted by old git

ah hello charlie !!!! Amhr�n na bhFiann ( the soldiers song) is the national anthem of ireland .. soccer / boxing / swimming / tennis / rowing /athletics etc ,etc all seem to be proud to have it as their anthem . so what is the problem with an irish rugby team using it.

The cricket team uses Ireland's Call as well. I don't know if they play AnabhF at the games in Rathmines but they definitely don't in Belfast. The cricket and rugby teams don't represent one country, they represent all the people on the island so the anthem of the Republic is not appropriate to use.

The other sports (apart from soccer) are organised on an all-Ireland basis but represent only the Republic of Ireland. Athletes/swimmers/etc. from the north are free to represent the Republic of Ireland or the UK.

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

@ Charlie, the problem is that the island of Ireland has "too many" anthems.

True. I think Ireland's Call is dreadful as a song but as an anthem it seems to pump people up and when you see people like Stephen Ferris belting it out before a game it's hard to argue that it doesn't do the job advertised.

I really like Amhran na bhFiann as a song, it's just a pity that it mainly involves killing British soldiers. It's understandably a bit of a sore point with our northern neighbours and it surprises me to this day why people from the south don't understand why it's so objectionable to our more loyal friends.

**geysir** · 17/09/2011, 9:13 PM

I see some tin pot Dublin councillors are getting in on the act over the national anthem. The IRFU should gracefully tell them to eff off, in their best D4 accent. When Ireland flop as they usually have done at these rugby events, according to the self-styled patriots it was because the AnbF wasn't played beforehand, therefore access to that deep well of patriotic bravery and fortitude was denied. I suppose that theory has gone out the window now.

Now says one councillor,
"I don't see why the IRFU are still refusing to play it at away grounds. It gives the impression that Ireland's Call is our national anthem,"

I seriously doubt that anybody outside Ireland gives a fraction of a moment's thought to what anthem is used by the 32 county rugby team, just as long as it's only one and not two in row.

**BonnieShels** · 17/09/2011, 9:19 PM

In fairness is it right though if you wanna take to that extent that NZ get the Haka? I don't belief they should tbh?

Cllrs need something to whine about if it's not this it's the housing list or a leylandii.

The IRFU are the most sensitive to this issue.

On a personal level I would prefer nothing to IC. I think silence would be better and exercise the mind more I also love that feeling of AnF as it hits the crescendo. Roll on to 1525 tomorrow when 82300 of us will be singing out!

**Charlie Darwin** · 17/09/2011, 9:22 PM

There was a great letter in this morning's Indo. Some self-righteous ***** proudly announcing that he and his mates would be supporting Australia in protest against the IRFU not playing the Republic's national anthem. I'd have loved to have seen the look on his face as he watched that masterplan unfold. Hopefully he'll be supporting England in the semis if we get that far.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/le...l-2879700.html

**BonnieShels** · 17/09/2011, 10:09 PM

Supporting a team, in the Commonwealth, that proudly has the Queen as HoS, that has a UJ in the Canton of it's flag... roight.

Not really sure what he aims to achieve.

The lack of knowledge of sine sections if southern society of how we hit here etc is staggering. Rather than derail the topic, can I just say that I really enjoyed the game and look forward to the next month.

Now what do we reckon about Wales-Samoa?

**Mr A** · 17/09/2011, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Now what do we reckon about Wales-Samoa?

Three words.

Too. Ducking. Early.

**BonnieShels** · 18/09/2011, 1:56 AM

Just in. Gonna attempt a power nap and then hit France Canada. Danger.

**Spudulika** · 18/09/2011, 4:24 AM

Missing a cracking match. I'd to get up early to prepare reports, caught an amazing opening half of football from Utah (Utah vs BYU) and the first play from BYU was something out of a blooper reel. Anyway, now sitting and watching a really tight match between Wales and Samoa. Samoa leading at the half, but by god are they hitting hard. Wales doing well, if they can keep going the Samoans could/shoujld run out of steam and then the welsh sneak a 5-10 point win.

**bennocelt** · 18/09/2011, 4:35 AM

Good try by Samoa
About the anthem not really bothered, just hate that dirge they have at the moment - Danny Boy would be a cool anthem to have
Brilliant result for the rugby boys - hope they go all the way. When u think of the monosyllabic moronic fellas on the Football team, and compare them to the rugby lads - different class I think,more heart as well

**Macy** · 18/09/2011, 9:14 AM

Charlie laid out why we have Irelands Call for the genuine all ireland organisations.The attitude and ignorance in recent days on things like liveline shows that it's definitely not just unionists that cause the issues.

For what it's worth, i support the theory, but we have enough non contentious traditional songs that could've been used. Still, better than the Rose of Tralee that was used in the first Rugby World Cup...

**SwanVsDalton** · 18/09/2011, 9:15 AM

France and Canada is in the balance. 16-10 now but only because France just scored a couple of late first-half penalties. France will surely stretch away in the second half but Canada are unlucky to be behind, playing well the Canucks.

Ouch another France penalty - the Canadians will be kicking themselves for giving away three handy penalties just before half time.

**geysir** · 18/09/2011, 9:29 AM

Turning on tv so early in the morning should come with a mental health warning, yesterday morning I was struck dumb when faced with The Waltons.

**geysir** · 18/09/2011, 9:39 AM

Does the beard factor have an influence? there's a few canucks with fearsome looking beards.

Could Glen Whelan evoke the spirit of Tony Grealish by growing a beard?

**shakermaker1982** · 18/09/2011, 1:51 PM

Terrific defensive performance.

So glad that it looks like we avoided the Boks in the Q Finals. Our back row forwards vs theirs = world war 3. Would be nice to meet em in a final.

**paul_oshea** · 18/09/2011, 9:27 PM

Bet 20 they would beat aus beforehand.

I have a bad feeling about wales now though.

**Cymro** · 19/09/2011, 2:13 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

There was a great letter in this morning's Indo. Some self-righteous ***** proudly announcing that he and his mates would be supporting Australia in protest against the IRFU not playing the Republic's national anthem. I'd have loved to have seen the look on his face as he watched that masterplan unfold. Hopefully he'll be supporting England in the semis if we get that far.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/le...l-2879700.html

The IRFU receives millions in grants from the taxpayers of Ireland every year, yet while the team is abroad they will not play our national anthem.

The players and fans stand to attention for 'Ireland's Call' -- what a disgrace.

I, like most of my friends, will be supporting Australia. If the Government wants to save money, I believe they should start with the IRFU.

Patrick Troy
Ballycullen, Dublin 24

Irish Independent

What an idiotic letter. As well as the old chestnut about the hardworking taxpayers subsidising the lazy, out-of-touch suits, 'Patrick Troy' seems to have forgotten (or rather overlooked) the one-sixth of the island of Ireland that does not have Amhran na bhFiann as its anthem, indeed, for those who are unionists they probably find it offensive.

I personally think Ireland's Call is great, a rousing song if a bit cheesy. Bet of all it is a neutral song unlike GSTQ or AnbhF.

On a different note, well done on your win the other day, I look forward to our meeting in the quarter-finals! Of course, now I've said that, watch us lose to Fiji and go out at the pool stage, again. Eminently possible if we play as we did today. Can you believe despite winning the Grand Slam twice in the last decade, I haven't seen us throw a decent ball from the lineout since about 1978?

**tetsujin1979** · 19/09/2011, 8:44 AM

Originally Posted by The Fly

To the home of stupid place names and the amber nectar, Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, questionable cuisine, Dame Edna, Alf Stewart, Michael Hutchence, Skippy, Ayer's Rock/Uluru, Kylie and Jason, Rupert Murdoch, Mel Gibson (sort of), Shane Warne and Rolf Harris...........your boys took one hell of a beating!!!

Nobody in Australia drinks Fosters (or so I'm reliably informed)
Russell Crowe was born in New Zealand
Nicole Kidman was born in Hawaii
Still amazing to beat the tar out of them though