Poor atmosphere?

[Maximus Decimus]

During the game, especially the first half hour, there seemed to be a lot of talk about a poor atmosphere at the game. 

 

If this was the case and it wasn't just the BBC's low microphones, why do people think this is? It seems incredibly odd to me as we are more competitive than at times in the past and we are getting more people to the games than we used to. Also, Hull is usually well known for the atmosphere. I think there are a few possibilities about today's game.

 

1) From GB to England - I can't envisage why this would be a contributing factor but I remember many of the England World Cup games had a similar complaint. I saw GB in a number of games where the atmosphere was immense including a test against NZ. My experiences watching England haven't quite been the same. However, it's not like we had a wide array of GB songs to create an atmosphere whereas we don't now. 

 

2) Unfamiliarity with test series - Maybe we're just out of the habit of playing a series like this? Most of the games that England have played against the big sides have been essentially do or die. It did feel weird knowing that if we lost it wasn't the end of the world. 

 

3) Timing - 5pm on a Sunday night felt like an odd time to have a first test. Work in the morning and all that. 

 

4) Demographic change - Maybe despite an increase in crowd numbers, we're actually getting fewer diehards to the game but more people who go for the event. Widnes has two main stands with with different demographics; the atmosphere in each is very different. 

 

 

Before the inevitable attacks, I thought today was a positive experience and sets the rest of the series up well. I'm not overly concerned about the lack of atmosphere either, especially if we're packing them in like today. I do think it is a worthy talking point though. Funnily enough, I don't think OP next week will have the same problem. 

[MancRL]

It had its moments. The second half was better.

[Maximus Decimus]

It had its moments. The second half was better.

 

I couldn't really tell. Watched it in a chaotic house with my family where nobody could hear anything due to children running about and adults debating the game. 

[Padge]

I couldn't really tell. Watched it in a chaotic house with my family where nobody could hear anything due to children running about and adults debating the game. 

 

So how do you know it was a poor atmosphere, you couldn't get it anyway.

 

you are declaring it was a rubbish atmoshpere in a house in which you couldn't here what the atmosphere was like.

[MancRL]

I couldn't really tell. Watched it in a chaotic house with my family where nobody could hear anything due to children running about and adults debating the game.

The trouble is that those who are more outgoing than others are scattered around the stadium, so its hard to get a few songs going. There was a lively crew near the wheelchair section near the corner.

[Scubby]

It did sound church like on the TV in that first 30 minutes. I thought it was either down to very low crowd microphone or a bit of tension from nervous England fans.

[MancRL]

It did sound church like on the TV in that first 30 minutes. I thought it was either down to very low crowd microphone or a bit of tension from nervous England fans.

Yeah, the first 25 minutes were pretty quiet. But it picked up. And in the second half there were a few songs and more noise. With some of the smashes the Kiwis had to suck-up in the last 20 minutes, it certainly got the crowd going, especially the last one which resulted in a try and an injured Kiwi.

[Maximus Decimus]

So how do you know it was a poor atmosphere, you couldn't get it anyway.

 

you are declaring it was a rubbish atmoshpere in a house in which you couldn't here what the atmosphere was like.

 

I'm sorry I must have missed where I declared it a poor atmosphere. Here's my opening as you clearly didn't read it,

 

During the game, especially the first half hour, there seemed to be a lot of talk about a poor atmosphere at the game. 

If this was the case and it wasn't just the BBC's low microphones, why do people think this is?

 

 

Following the game on Twitter and being semi-facetious (I could hear parts of the game including Woods talking about the flat atmosphere) it was one of the main talking points of the first half. Here is what Gareth Walker had to say on Twitter at half time,

 

 Am surprised "quiet crowd" and "England poor" aren't trending reading my timeline. Still nicely poised. And RTS is some rugby player 

 

 

Also, George Riley (very pro-RL broadcaster) said this. 

 

Have the crowd at the KC gone expecting to be watching snooker?! Make some noise !! #bbcrl

 

If you thought the atmosphere was OK, by all means say so but let's not play this game where we pretend that there weren't a lot of people claiming that the atmosphere was flat. 

[Saintslass]

If you thought the atmosphere was OK, by all means say so but let's not play this game where we pretend that there weren't a lot of people claiming that the atmosphere was flat. 

The crowd probably just reflected the England performance at that time, namely flat. 

[Northern Eel]

Points 2 and 3 in my opinion. All a bit underwhelming until we woke up.

[The Parksider]

The atmosphere was different to league games. Section W11 was supposedly for the Kiwi supporters but I didn't hear any support for the Kiwis.

 

The crowd were all for us to win, but very respectful of the Kiwis, who are a top side in the face of our hated enemy the Aussies. We like them because they beat the Aussies.

 

Everyone was waiting for the Haka that was wonderful as always. We love them for that.

 

They are a team who come from a country where RU is top sport, so the Kiwi lads achieving what they achieve in the face of RU dominance is something we intensly admire them for.

 

Those who were in the crowd who aren't regulars of course sat back and enjoyed the game without baying for blood, those who are regulars and know the game (for me) were respectful of the Kiwis and didn't want to see them be battered in any way similar to what we want for those Aussies.

 

That's my best explanation and I would like to go to KC again to see a Hull/Leeds game in which the crowd will hopefully wish death to the Loiners in as passionately nasty way as possible...... 

 

 

 

 

[Steve Fox]

In the closing stages when Joe Burgess (I think) tackled one of the Kiwis in goal for a crucial repeat set, the cameras showed the first few rows of the crowd in the stand behind, most of them sat on their hands. Surely they should have been out of their seats roaring their approval?

[Saintslass]

It's true.  It's hard to hate the Kiwis.  But they did rob us of a world cup final place by being all sneaky and doing some fancy footwork, so it's still nice to beat them even if this series doesn't mean the same.

[Maximus Decimus]

The crowd probably just reflected the England performance at that time, namely flat. 

 

I've watched games where we've been terrible but without the flat feeling like in this test. We were never out of the game. 

 

Don't get me wrong, atmosphere can be a funny thing. Sometimes games just don't have a good one and some do, it often depends on how up for it the crowd are.

 

The reason for the thread was that it was a common complaint up in games with big attendances last year up until the semi-final in the World Cup. 

[fulhamphoenix]

On telly the atmosphere was flat. The first few minutes of the first half were pretty pedestrian to watch IMO. Remember that a lot of folk (and yes league folk) will have watched a lot of top class union over the last few weeks. Maybe, especially with the early lack of game intensity, this was a game too far for them. Hopefully it will be a different story next week.

[Padge]

I'm sorry I must have missed where I declared it a poor atmosphere. Here's my opening as you clearly didn't read it,

 

 

Following the game on Twitter and being semi-facetious (I could hear parts of the game including Woods talking about the flat atmosphere) it was one of the main talking points of the first half. Here is what Gareth Walker had to say on Twitter at half time,

 

 

Also, George Riley (very pro-RL broadcaster) said this. 

 

 

If you thought the atmosphere was OK, by all means say so but let's not play this game where we pretend that there weren't a lot of people claiming that the atmosphere was flat. 

 

My point was that you were commenting on something you hadn't experienced, your comments came across as a dig without foundation.

[The Parksider]

The crowd probably just reflected the England performance at that time, namely flat. 

 

Not really.....

 

If club sides are flat the fans get on their back.....

 

It was weird, it was like a "sporting" crowd. 

 

Nobody could find anything frustrating, nasty or bias to shout.

[Maximus Decimus]

It's true.  It's hard to hate the Kiwis.  But they did rob us of a world cup final place by being all sneaky and doing some fancy footwork, so it's still nice to beat them even if this series doesn't mean the same.

 

This was part of my point number 2.

 

I think we are so out of the habit of playing series that they aren't viewed quite the same as they used to be and not viewed as important as the 4 Nations or the World Cup. They used to be the be all and end all. 

 

You could almost suggest that some fans viewed it like a friendly rather than like an intense series with something meaningful on the line. Hopefully, next week and the prospect of some silverware in front of a big crowd will see a difference in this. 

[MancRL]

In the closing stages when Joe Burgess (I think) tackled one of the Kiwis in goal for a crucial repeat set, the cameras showed the first few rows of the crowd in the stand behind, most of them sat on their hands. Surely they should have been out of their seats roaring their approval?

There was a crusty old Yorkshire man sat behind us who berated anyone who dared to stand up during the game, he seemed to have some effect on the nice people, I suggested he purchase a periscope in future, like the ones at the horse racing. He wasn't amused.

[Roughyhead true]

I was there and it was like a library at times. I believe though the game didn't help. Very few clean breaks very little ball play. They fed off the game. Which to me was poor. Very little exciting play.

[The Parksider]

You could almost suggest that some fans viewed it like a friendly rather than like an intense series with something meaningful on the line. 

 

That's pretty close....

 

It's intensely meaningful if we beat the Aussies

 

It's intensely meaningful to us when Kiwis beat the Aussies.

 

Weren't we all Kiwi fans every time they ended up playing Australia because Australia beat England and put us out?

 

Don't we become Kiwi fans on many occasions....

 

So all our passion is reserved for Aussie hating?

[Maximus Decimus]

That's pretty close....

 

It's intensely meaningful if we beat the Aussies

 

It's intensely meaningful to us when Kiwis beat the Aussies.

 

Weren't we all Kiwi fans every time they ended up playing Australia because Australia beat England and put us out?

 

Don't we become Kiwi fans on many occasions....

 

So all our passion is reserved for Aussie hating?

 

I was at the decider in 2002 and don't recall anything but a good atmosphere. 

 

It's been 8 years since a test series and it was 4 years before that, maybe we're all out the habit and don't view it quite the same? 

 

Australia would of course be different. It's still seen as a much bigger achievement to beat them full stop and we've got 43 years of hurt to try and overcome. 

 

It may of course just be perception. I remember thinking the 2004 GB vs Aus test at the Etihad had a relatively disappointing atmosphere, very similar to Eng vs Aus in Cardiff in 2013. 

[Just Browny]

I genuinely cringed when, at 20-12 and with NZ on the attack, the crowd kicked off a Mexican wave.

[Maximus Decimus]

I genuinely cringed when, at 20-12 and with NZ on the attack, the crowd kicked off a Mexican wave.

 

I think they look bad on TV because of the perception of boredom but I think it depends how they start. It doesn't take that many to start them from my experience and a large number seem to enjoy them. 

 

I can't recall where I was when a relatively small group of Aussies seemed determined to start one and had about 8 goes before it eventually lifted off. Once they start, they're difficult to stop but I think it stopped quite quickly tonight. 

[The Parksider]

It's been 8 years since a test series and it was 4 years before that, maybe we're all out the habit and don't view it quite the same? 

 

Probably, my lads a big lad now and I had to explain why we were playing the same side 3 times in a row.

 

Something to do with how years ago cross world transport was slower,,,,,