Open Principality Stadium roof provokes furious debate
Ireland’s decision to keep the roof of the Principality Stadium open against Wales tomorrow has been the catalyst of a huge discussion on Twitter.
The match looks like it will be played in treacherous conditions during storm Gareth in Cardiff, as Ireland hope to prevent Wales from winning a Grand Slam. Many Welsh fans are furious with this decision, feeling that the home side should be entitled to chose, rather than the away side. It is hard to determine which team would actually benefit most from playing in the wind and rain, but Principality Stadium is renowned for conjuring a rapturous atmosphere, particularly with the roof on, which can obviously be intimidating for the opposition.
With the game in the balance, and very hard to call, each side will obviously want every possible advantage they can take. However, there are many neutrals that have questioned why the roof is not closed, simply from a viewing perspective. Many feel that the roof was installed for occasions like these, and it is senseless to not take advantage of the facilities.
https://twitter.com/alunhowley/status/1106521298283520002
Surely the roof closed is in the best interests of the fans who ate paying large sums of their hard earned cash to watch the game.
— Mark Williams (@MarkWil59594888) March 14, 2019
It annoys me this rule. It should be down to @WelshRugbyUnion if it’s closed or open.
— Mike Hughes Farrier (@hughesyfarrier) March 14, 2019
It’s also a spectator sport too, which they should consider heavily. Wet, scrappy game with unhappy fans getting soaked; or a fast, open game of running rugby with happy fans, none of which are getting wet…
— Scott Arthur (@Scott_Arthur) March 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/mvthomas1971/status/1106250625686355970
Disgraceful!!
— Maggie (@v5034maggie) March 15, 2019
Like if I visited your house and got to decide whether to fling all the windows open or not!😲🏴
— Hefin Richards (@HefinR) March 15, 2019
Then again, there is a huge number of fans that agree with the roof being open, primarily because rugby is an outdoor, winter sport. The fans have said that part of rugby is being able to contend with the elements, rather than simply always playing in dry conditions. Furthermore, the visiting team will not have the opportunity to train under the roof, which would deprive them of becoming accustomed to the stadium if there are any differences.
In such a crucial game in the Six Nations, where bonus points may prove to be crucial, some fans have also said that this is only fair, as England will be facing Scotland in very similar conditions at Twickenham on the same day.
With the World Cup in Japan later this year, where there is a chance of very similar conditions, some Welsh fans are saying that this will be great preparation in inclement weather.
Once again, this is not a topic that is simply being discussed by Welsh and Irish fans ahead of their match, as this is a matter regarding the integrity of rugby.
No it's not, rugby is an outdoor game, and visiting teams can't train under it so should choose when visiting
— Neil Dodsworth (@NeilDodsworth99) March 14, 2019
Leave it open and beat Ireland. We have to play in Japan so let's put a marker down by beating England and Ireland without the supposed advantage of us having the commonsense to put a roof on a stadium for a winter sport in the UK in the 21st century!
— Dewi Joseph (@DewiJoseph1968) March 14, 2019
Outdoor game and you play to the element.
— suzannah elliott (@ElliottSuzannah) March 14, 2019
It is entirely in keeping with the spirit of rugby. In the same way that the home side changes kit if their shirts clash with a visitor. And I can’t imagine a bit of rain will be anything new to the Welsh…
— John Aitken 🌻 (@johnaitken69) March 14, 2019
Part of the skill of the game is coping with whatever the weather conditions throw at you playing the game indoors makes it sterile
— Andrew Briggs (@chogger5) March 14, 2019
Rugby is a game for the elements sir. If you remove those elements, the game becomes unnatural. Having said that, the atmosphere with the roof closed is the best I've ever experienced.
— Simon Cattell (@SimonCattell3) March 14, 2019
Why? Why not just play, and reward a skill of dealing with bad weather?
— Tim O'Connor (@timoconnorbl) March 14, 2019
This is a topic that is always controversial, and it will undoubtedly occur again, but in a game with so much at stake, this may be the most contentious instance yet.
Watch: Wales head coach Warren Gatland looks ahead to Ireland match
Comments on RugbyPass
Havili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to comments