Hurricanes want their own Yellow Fever
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/3366344/Hurricanes-duo-call-for-fans-to-get-more-vocal
Hurricanes duo call for fans to get more vocal
Jason Eaton and Cory Jane have appealed to rugby fans to match the passion of their football counterparts after the pair helped chant the Wellington Phoenix to victory at Westpac Stadium.
The Hurricanes duo were among the 24,000-strong crowd that helped urge the Phoenix to victory against Perth Glory in their A-league playoff match last Sunday.
And though Eaton admitted he had struggled in his attempts to sing along with Yellow Fever he would love to see Hurricanes fans give it a try during this season's Super 14.
"It was wonderful. In a way it was kind of disappointing to see such [passionate] support for a soccer game," he said. "I was proud to be a part of it and experience it, but it would be great to see that for our games.
"The atmosphere was just amazing to be a part of for that game."
Asked what could be done to bring the same atmosphere to rugby, Eaton said: "I'm not too sure how you change that. It'd be great if the guys that come along to the rugby got more vocal and hopefully the football will encourage that. I suppose the [rugby] crowd gets into it when something happens, whereas soccer fans make it happen with the atmosphere by singing along.
"In a rugby game they are waiting for something to happen, something controversial, a try to be scored for the win, but in between they are sort of just watching. I guess it's just the way both codes have evolved over the years.
"I joined in [the chanting] but I didn't really know the words or the tunes, so I sort of made it up. It was pretty entertaining."
Jane had similar sentiments and suggested a zone similar to the Yellow Fever's could spark off equally passionate chanting at the rugby.
"Hopefully people get along and get pumped like they did for the Phoenix game. That really pumped ... we can't have the same chant obviously because it would make no sense, Ri-cki Her-bert ... [but] something similar to that."
Jane said the two codes were different in terms of how the crowd watched the action.
"Obviously they are different games, football's a bit of a game of chess and the crowd has a lot of time to get pumped up [between goals], but it would be good to see Hurricanes fans get along and get into the rugby side of things."
The Hurricanes traditionally had great support and he believed the crowds would build as the season progressed. "The rugby starts early and people have other things to do at this time of the year, but we'd love the crowd to get involved," he said.
"I don't know if the players need to start doing touch down celebrations like David [Smith]. I don't know what it is, but hopefully the crowd comes along this weekend pumped up for the game."
I'm not sure it will actually happen but.
On the one hand I just think the nature of each game is quite different, in rugby you're always expecting your team to score a try or three, and often the buildup to a try is slow and concerted. In football things can come out of nowhere and each goal is such an achievement.
On the other hand there's no reason rugby fans can't sing and chant all game long, make up chants for individual players or to taunt the opposition.
1. You can't manufacture it, that has a long history of being embarassing here.
2. You can't just change the culture.
3. You need a group willing to make a start on their own accord.
...but the fundamental problem is that it needs a major mindshift from the rest of the supporters so the people aren't left feeling like social lepers. I just don't see it happening, the existing culture is too ingrained.
The one S14 game I went to last year with 16k crowd - a handful of people tried to start up a few chants.
Their efforts died very quickly and everyone just continued to talk amongst themselves and look up at the rugby every now and then.
The Beige Brigade, great concept and started with honourable intentions but where are they now? Making money in Europe, a smaller OE based Fanatics but for Kiwis.
The Beige Brigade, great concept and started with honourable intentions but where are they now? Making money in Europe, a smaller OE based Fanatics but for Kiwis.
In summing up, it's the Constitution, it's Mabo, it's justice, it's law, it's the vibe, and, uh ... No, that's it. It's the vibe.
An I'm a shiela
Oops getting carried away there
The Beige Brigade, great concept and started with honourable intentions but where are they now? Making money in Europe, a smaller OE based Fanatics but for Kiwis.
whats disappointing about it? why not be stoked that we're building another sporting culture in wellington which is further increasing the profile of wellington sport. dont try and make rugby like football, go do your own thing. or is that not working for you at the moment?
i know his intentions are probably good but he shouldve said something along the lines of "in a way its disappointing to see a lack of this kind of support at rugby games", instead of basically blaming us for doing more than any hurricanes fans ever have.
but he didnt, so my dig stands.
My reply got too long, so I posted it elsewhere:
whats disappointing about it? why not be stoked that we're building another sporting culture in wellington which is further increasing the profile of wellington sport. dont try and make rugby like football, go do your own thing. or is that not working for you at the moment?
i know his intentions are probably good but he shouldve said something along the lines of "in a way its disappointing to see a lack of this kind of support at rugby games", instead of basically blaming us for doing more than any hurricanes fans ever have.
but he didnt, so my dig stands.
My two reasons this will never happen in rugby;
1. Too high scoring.
2. Boring players. Rugby players score and they give each other a hug. How do they expect the crowd to react?
Some wogs are poofs, or did Greece get the reputation it has undeservedly?
Why are these pricks disappointed in football folk having fun and being passionate about their teams...
In Sydney the RL have sent people down to watch the Cove and try and copy what they do ... in Melbourne the AFL are coping the Tards supporters...
What is so sad about Football folk having fun... I say FOOK EM ... grow up
Actually British rugby fans sing a bit, at least at internationals.
You beat me to it. There is no reason to have this at the Rugby Games. It is only the silly Kiwi Rugby Bloke attitudes from the Old Boys network that butches the crowd mentality.
The "abide with me" song is alway popular at any football games.
In Sydney the RL have sent people down to watch the Cove and try and copy what they do ... in Melbourne the AFL are coping the Tards supporters...
No, it's just that some MVFC supporters also support an AFL team, and try to support them in the same way., with limited success it has to be said.
The Beige Brigade, great concept and started with honourable intentions but where are they now? Making money in Europe, a smaller OE based Fanatics but for Kiwis.
(Most impressive experience of a rugby match was the Lions fans drowing out the Haka, even though it was miked up and played over the PA system at the Wellington test)
I'm gobsmacked by the dullness of the crowd at rugby games in NZ, I really do think this is something about the culture of rugby not just in NZ but Oz as well, where anything other than a polite clap, and an encouraging 'C'mon' is frowned upon.
FIXED