Evidently, not that many others shared my enthusiasm. A paltry 7000 turned out at the Liberty Stadium to watch what was undoubtedly an important game. Surely there is precious little else to do in Wales on a Friday night?
These playoffs were supposed to solve the problem of low attendances. By the governing bodies' view, people didn't attend matches due to a lack of competitiveness. A foregone conclusion isn't exactly the best way to spend your afternoon. And while I feel that the playoff format is a good idea, it evidently failed to capture the imaginations of the Ospreys supporters, no doubt still moaning about how it was a fix-up job in San Sebastien.
I was pleased that there was a not insignificant travelling support, but their vocal nature is hardly replicated back at 'fortress' Firhill. It would seem that, in spite of the minor boost in attendances and enthusiasm that being near the top of the league table brings, the Warriors, and also Edinburgh, are still failing to connect with anyone besides the type of people who have watched rugby for years, and those people's children.
Is it an attitude problem? Partly, I believe so. Rugby doesn't exactly come across as a champion of the honest, working man in Scotland. Most of Glasgow would dismiss it out of hand as a game for posh twats. That is, if they were even aware it was actually being played in Glasgow at all.
It's certainly true that the clientele at Firhill and Murryfield aren't the most socially inclusive; you see a lot of tweed jackets and briefcases at times. But it is also true that I grew up having never really played any rugby until I went to university. I had no real interest in it until at least the age of 16, and I did not know a single person who thought any differently.
And now, I bloody love the sport. One of the highlights of my week is lacing my boots up and stepping onto the pitch. If I can go from rugby novice to rugby nut, then others can too. They just need a bit of exposure to it.
Perhaps the Scottish media could cease publishing 16 pages a day on Rangers and Celtic and make the Warriors, Edinburgh and the national side more prominant. Perhaps national papers could actually put a word in about the Magners League for once (the Guardian, I'm looking at you). It's a unique league with fascinating variety between its constituent regions, particularly when the Italians join the party next year.
And finally, perhaps BBC Scotland news could have at least mentioned the fact that the game was on last night, instead running with a sports section devoted entirely to the Scottish Cup final. Give Ross County and Dundee United some coverage please, they have earned it. But don't fawn over them at the expense of everything else. They do this fawning every year because of the sad attitude that they need to give non Old-Firm teams Old-Firm style coverage every so often so as to not come across as biased and blinkered. Which, incidently, they fail at spectacularly.
Here's some news for you guys. There was actually an important match on last night featuring a team that represents the entire city of Glasgow. Perhaps if you aknowledged that, some more people might start caring about it.
GM
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