I'm not impressed with the new 'Ticketmaster fan' who just wants to be at an event and hasn't a clue what's going on

We’re much more interested in letting people know we’re at the game via Foursquare, taking pics of ourselves in the stadium via Facebook and shouting about it via Twitter. Then we look up and wonder why there’s no atmosphere!

Get involved and regardless of score or weather you’ll have a better time and our stadium will come alive.

But not until we put away our ego and mobile.

– Aran Nugent

Ordinary punters don’t need lectures on how to support a team. Give them access to tickets at reasonable prices and give them a team they can believe in and you will get what you deserve.

I feel that you Alan, and the other Irish Times journalists and the Ireland set-up are practically brothers in arms, the ordinary supporters are on the outside and don’t matter. Hence get stuck into the supporters, turn them on each other, while the crumbling ship that is ‘Ireland Under Kidney’ sails straight for the cliffs.

– Muckra1

What struck me most is the number of people who were tuned into what the referee was saying, and not even talking to one another. Those head sets definitely contributed to the stadium being quiet as well.

– Peter Byrne (via email)

There has been a real sense of “we are here – so entertain us” growing throughout sport in recent years. Also “we’ll take it on our terms, on platforms of our choosing and in bite size pieces that don’t interfere with the much more important business of getting our pints in”.

– Jerry Boyle (via email)

Looking at how quickly the stands emptied as the captains were interviewed on TV we can be reassured that there would be no problem clearing the stands in an emergency, for instance, if the bars were about to run dry!

– Tom Cleary (via email)

I would rather stay in Galway and watch the big games in a bar with a few mates where; a) I will see more of the game from my seat; b) I can have a few reasonably-priced pints in comfort, courtesy of the €90 saving made by not buying a match ticket and; c) I’m with a gang I can actually have a bit of banter with, instead of a bunch of yokes more interested where their next Skinny Latte is coming from, or if there’s a chance of a photo op with Paul O’Connell after the game.

– Robbie Higgins

Being able to watch the match surrounded by people you knew was what created the atmosphere, with chants, songs and so on all starting much more frequently . . . Perhaps the IRFU could take a leaf out of Ryanair’s book and allow for a first-come, first-served ticket policy, thereby allowing groups of people who know each other to enjoy the spectacle together and enhance the atmosphere tenfold?