AAs far as England is concerned, just because the squad remains unchanged doesn’t mean it’s time to settle for the status quo this weekend. Everyone from players to casual fans agrees that the atmosphere at Twickenham needs to change – and quickly. The last time the national team played at home to Fiji in preparation for the Rugby World Cup, the rows of empty seats spoke volumes before England lost.
The Six Nations are always a slightly different beast, and a touring Welsh choir can have the added edge of adding enthusiasm to the visiting national anthems. But when the Guardian reported last month that new England captain Jamie George and his players had submitted several proposals to the Rugby Football Union in an attempt to improve the atmosphere on and off the pitch on major international breaks, social media was quick to raise concerns Suggest many areas that could or should be addressed.
“Ticket prices and access to the stadium need to be adjusted.” “Twickenham has turned into a pissing paradise over the past two years.” “Don’t kick the ball away.” Clearly there is no immediately applicable solution – perhaps very Tellingly, the RFU declined to make any of its managers available for comment on Thursday – but the first steps are being taken in a more encouraging direction.
Some will be internal and out of sight, others more visible and contained. Per their request, the team will conduct a slightly longer “fan walk” through the west parking lot to the locker room before the game, although the logistics are trickier than expected. “It’s been extended – I’m very happy about that – but there are some safety issues,” George reported. “We can’t just go back to the gate because I think there’s a boarding board, so we’re not going to pass anyone…it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
In the locker room, players will also find the names of their latest hats on the honor board, along with more personal information on their tacks. “We’ve done some work around the locker room that I think will make things feel a little more special,” reported George, who is genuinely determined to play a role in enhancing the experience for everyone involved. “I, like the boys, have been very vocal about the fact that we want Twickenham to feel special. We are fed [some ideas] It’s great to be back in the hands of people who are in power and some of them are already on board. “
Going into the Stadium Bowl will also be emotionally charged. England’s mascots will be four-year-old Billy Thompson, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and his six-year-old sister Maddie. Their father, Jamie, was a player-coach at Effingham and Leatherhead RFC, and the sense of unity in the rugby community is palpable. Applause will follow for the likes of the late Wales legend Barry John, JPR Williams and England’s Mike Weston, another heartfelt moment that needs no artificial PA enhancement.
George believes it’s moments like this that take Test match day to another level. “It’s a huge privilege for us to be able to put a smile on someone’s face. Walking into the wall of noise – these are things we have discussed with the RFU. It won’t be the finished product on Saturday [but] We want to see what’s going well and what’s not going well. As players, we will reflect on this, go back to RFU and see if we can build on this to further enhance the experience. “
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the mass booing at Twickenham was not entirely a recent phenomenon. Old-timers estimate that the first time this statement was heard was in the 1957-58 season, when Australian player Jim Lenehan first kneed the tackled England player Peter Thompson. Thompson, who was subsequently booed every time he touched the ball. Guardian journalist Denis Rowbotham wrote at the time: “The booing was so ugly that even veteran campaigners can’t recall what happened at Twickenham before.”
Twickenham, on the other hand, can rock at a completely different pace, as Harlequins have proven with their fantastic run of big games of the year. Quins’ innovation chief executive Laurie Dalrymple stressed that the international game has traditionally attracted a different clientele, but he still believed the English game could change. “Obviously something has to change,” Dalrymple said, referring to England’s recent rocky relationship with match-day sponsors.
“I can’t comment on the culture at RFU, but at Quins we are committed to being bold, innovative and unafraid of failure. Make no mistake about it…price is of the essence. I have an argument for the profitability of the large Twickenham International airline, But are they ready for a portion of the ticket base to suddenly become more accessible and affordable? I think there definitely needs to be a willingness to accept new audiences. I’d bet there’s a huge gap between people going to Wales and Ireland games, for example of crossover.”
Dalrymple reiterated that top musical acts, light shows, pyrotechnics… the modern fan experience is not just about rugby. “Winning is a big help, and so is having an identity, but you also have to provide some peripheral experience for the fans. That ultimately changes the dynamic of who comes through the door.” But in the end, George knows exactly where the responsibility lies. “If we want to create an intimidating environment at Twickenham then first and foremost we have to be physical, confrontational and aggressive. Ultimately, as players we have a responsibility Put in a performance that people can be proud of. If we do that… that’s the environment we want Twickenham to be in.” In theory, starting on Saturday.
