Congratulations to Munster Rugby...

**Roo69** · 23/05/2006, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Can anybody tell me what the Leinster anthem is please, or the Biarritz one, or the Toulouse one, or the WASPS one....probably not, because none of these teams have the support base that Munster rugby has. And they never ever will.

Not having ago what so ever, as i said i was delighted as an Irishman that an Irish team won the top prize in european rugby, but..... i was listening to the Last Word last night (i think) and they were talking about support and they mentioned that offical figures have Leinster's and Ulster's attendences high this season.

**Kingdom** · 23/05/2006, 10:17 AM

Some super photos there Tets.

**Johnnie C** · 23/05/2006, 10:49 AM

Ole Ole Brigade
Man United
Munster

A rising tide lifts all boats. Easy to "follow" a team when they only play a maximum of 9 important games spread over 8 months

**joeSoap** · 23/05/2006, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Johnnie C

Ole Ole Brigade
Man United
Munster

A rising tide lifts all boats. Easy to "follow" a team when they only play a maximum of 9 important games spread over 8 months

Johnny (I refuse to spell it the Brit way you do)...stop being such a pillock...or maybe you can't help it or handle the Munster success....go try rise someone who is going to fall for it.

**Schumi** · 23/05/2006, 3:07 PM

Happy for Munster, they deserved the win against a very dangerous looking Biarritz side. The noise was fantastic with the roof closed, hope they close it for the football qualifier. I was in the very back row of the top tier and the view was great for such a distance from the pitch, fantastic stadium, really looking forward to Wales - Ireland.

**pete** · 23/05/2006, 3:09 PM

I travelled over & must say enjoyed the previous final in Cardiff against Leicester more excluding the result.

I was at the quarter & semi finals & might go to 1 or 2 celtic league games if in Cork at year but were far too many bandwagon people at the game this time. The fact that virtually no Biarritz support also lessened the occasion. We had good seats behind the posts where tries scored but huge amount of people who probably at first game this season. A lot of shiney new jerseys in view.

Cardiff seemed good spot 3 years ago but came across as a kip this year with few bars or facilities in the town.

As an avid eL supporter everything else suffers by comparison. I just can't invest the same emotion in any other event. However tingle in my spin when teams entered the pitch pre ko.

15 hour ferry delay in Holyhead kip but Stenaline muppets probably not help my mood.

**Paddy Ramone** · 24/05/2006, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Johnny (I refuse to spell it the Brit way you do)...stop being such a pillock...or maybe you can't help it or handle the Munster success....go try rise someone who is going to fall for it.

What's British about spelling "Johnny" as "Johnnie"?

**NY Hoop** · 24/05/2006, 10:59 AM

Fantastic to see an Irish team winning the European Cup. Anybody who claims to be Irish who says otherwise is a muppet.

Great year for Irish rugby. Triple Crown, beating the huns 3 times in a row and a European Cup. Happy days

KOH

**Stuttgart88** · 24/05/2006, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

To those of you who want to mock or deride the choice of song the Munster fans sing; I pity you, for you do not understand what it is to passionately support your side. It wouldn't and shouldn't matter what songs or anthems are sung, be it the theme from Sesame Street or The Fields of Athenry.

Can anybody tell me what the Leinster anthem is please, or the Biarritz one, or the Toulouse one, or the WASPS one....probably not, because none of these teams have the support base that Munster rugby has. And they never ever will. Before anybody criticises Munsters supporters song choices, I would advise them to go along to a Munster game...home or away...and witness the atmosphere. It will change your opinion.

Eh, a bit of a chippy retort. no? The lad was simply asking why Munster sing it. Innocent enough question I thought

**Bald Student** · 24/05/2006, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Before anybody criticises Munsters supporters song choices, I would advise them to go along to a Munster game...home or away...and witness the atmosphere. It will change your opinion.

You left out the small print.

"Offer applies only to big European Cup games. Atmosphere and crowds not guarenteed on Celtic League evenings. 'Away' refers to destinations in the South of France, not provincial rugby grounds."

**CollegeTillIDie** · 25/05/2006, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by Bald Student

You left out the small print.

Missed the match I am overseas, and did not even see the result.
I know Munster won lads but what was the score? Well done to them anyway.
The point about bandwagon jumpers is I believe a fair one.
I have long believed that the fan who goes to the bread and butter games, in any sport, should be prioritized when it comes to the big match tickets, which on this occasion for once, did not seem to be in too short supply judging by the small amount of tickets sold in France.

But on a general point I believe that the GAA fan who goes to club Hurling games and National League games should get priority over me ( I have been to I think one hurling match in my life and that was earlier this year) when it comes to All-Ireland/Provincial Championship matches.

In the same way the AIL and Celtic League supporters deserves first crack at the Heineken Cup and International Rugby tickets...

And finally the EL supporters deserve priority when it comes to International tickets. And all of the barstoolers and Premiersh*t supporters can take a run and jump, that is only fair and just! And you cannot say given the numbers involved and the fact that Croker is going to be used for internationals that there won't still be room for a few ole ole bandwagon jumpers!

**pete** · 25/05/2006, 10:22 AM

Anyone who really needed a ticket could have bought on the internet weeks ago. Any true fan knew where & when the game was on & should have bought befoe the semi final as could have offloaded to Leinster if lost that.

Plenty of Leinster event junkies there last weekend too some even dressed in Munster merchandise

**tetsujin1979** · 25/05/2006, 10:58 AM

some vids from the big day, Nancy Blake's in Limerick goes ape and O'Connell Street is wedged!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pPvyx4lkrI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nkLubytk8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0iKa...ter%20Limerick

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/05/2006, 2:03 PM

Originally Posted by pete

I travelled over & must say enjoyed the previous final in Cardiff against Leicester more excluding the result.

I was at the quarter & semi finals & might go to 1 or 2 celtic league games if in Cork at year but were far too many bandwagon people at the game this time. The fact that virtually no Biarritz support also lessened the occasion. We had good seats behind the posts where tries scored but huge amount of people who probably at first game this season. A lot of shiney new jerseys in view.

Bandwagon jumpers are natural so I don't even see the point for debate. Do you think all the people that stood in O'Connell St are regular Munster Rugby attendees? I don't see why anyone should be labelled just because it's their first game, everybody has a first game sometime and if just a small percentage of them continue to go then I'm sure the bigwigs will be pleased with that.

It's a situation that has snowballed and caught everybody's imagination so of course there was going to be lots of people there that don't regularly go to games if at all. Otherwise Munster would be getting 60,000 at every home game (if it was possible of course). It is a natural phenomenon, a bit like City getting 7 or 8 thousand for a big European tie and then 1,500 on a wet miserable night a few days later....

**pete** · 25/05/2006, 2:45 PM

All teams have a bandwagon element to big matches however lot of event junkies in Cardiff i.e. people who attend big events irrespective of the team or the sport. These are the same people who will moan that can't get All Ireland tickets.

If Leinster were in the final i would definitely not have travelled & would not have hoped they'd win.

**Soper** · 25/05/2006, 3:16 PM

I only got to 6 matches this year (4 celtic league and 2 heineken cup, all of which were over here).Will have to improve that.

**paul_oshea** · 25/05/2006, 3:25 PM

this "great" munster support has only started over the last few years, and got bigger and bigger every year as there quest for glory gathered moss.

**gspain** · 26/05/2006, 8:04 AM

Yes but the great Munster support was the great Limerick support for the AIL in the 1990s. Young Munster brought 30,000 to Lansdowne Road in 1993 for an AIL decider. Shannon v Garryowen packed out Thomond a year or so later. There has been a strong tradition too in Cork, parts of Kerry and North Tipperary.

It was a great day and a moment to savour.

Of course there is a bandwagon effect but that happens in all sports. Where are the 23,000 Shels fans who watched the Depor game?

From a football perspective I think the Munster story should give great encouragement. Football is still a far more popular game than rugby outside of Limerick. Rugby is at best 3rd in the popularity stakes while football is by far the most played and watched (albeit on tv) sport in the country. Those diehard Man Utd and Celtic fans could well be supporting a successful Irish side in the future be that Shelbourne, Cork City, Drogheda or even Limerick (I can dream).