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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.
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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.
Well considering the forecast making this a difficult game to play! What’s the point! Travesty of a stadium facility going to waste! pic.twitter.com/56GnVKLGzR
— alun howley (@alunhowley) March 15, 2019
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
Ridiculous that visiting team can veto our choice to open or close the roof. Must change
Up to the WRU to permanently close the roof.
— Matt Thomas (@mvthomas1971) March 14, 2019
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.
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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.
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Watch: Wales head coach Warren Gatland looks ahead to Ireland match
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments