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

– Ciaran Brennan

I missed only six games in the old Lansdowne between 1966 and its closure. I just don’t get the same buzz in the new stadium and I’m certainly not impressed with the new “Ticketmaster fan” who just wants to be at an event and hasn’t a clue about what’s going on (heard a girl recently asking her boyfriend “why are there no goalkeepers?”)

– JJ Killian (Clonmel RFC)

Provincial hurling and football finals are always on Sunday afternoons, as are All-Ireland finals and the ‘atmosphere’ is good and the supporters are always in full voice and partisan so what’s different about rugby.

It’s the people not the time or place. Too posh to push syndrome.

– GerrydeGrinder

I am going to international matches since the 50s and the crowd reaction in the new Lansdowne Road stadium is very hard to lift.

After England’s third penalty I went outside for a few minutes to ease a cramp in my leg and it was shameful the amount of people drinking and watching the match on TV.

– Thomas Doyle

The current site outgrew its purpose a long time ago. We need a bigger stadium, with a roof, which true fans can gain access to.

Look no further than a few hundred miles across the sea in Cardiff.

– mcgeebers

Back in the 80s we were so tightly packed in on the South Terrace that a pee or a pint at half-time was out of the question. Even getting at your bacon sandwich or hip flask was difficult. There was certainly plenty of atmosphere!

– mcclung10

It’s amazing the number of comments to this article and how we are all so passionate about our rugby – we don’t seem to have the same criticism for the people supposedly running our country!

– Ken Sweeney

I think the point has been missed a little bit. With the building of the stadium the IRFU and FAI’s big prerogative was to clear the debt. The quickest way for them to do this was 10-year tickets, Vantage club, corporate boxes etc. Look at the advertising around this, it was all about access to bars, food, comfort and TV screens.

They have got exactly the client they were advertising to and the client has got what they were expecting. Nowhere in the package was an expectancy to cheer the team on.

– Paddymcg28

It appears that the fans aren’t as fanatical as the term suggests. Get over it!

– ConTeekey

Some comments have been edited due to space restrictions.