JARED Payne thinks that rugby fans are more passionate in Ireland compared to New Zealand.
Ireland international Payne, who has formed a solid centre partnership with the exciting Robbie Henshaw, was speaking at a media event promoting Saturday’s crunch Guinness Pro 12 clash between Ulster and Munster at Ravenhill.
"I can only really talk about the support you get, seeing the way the All Blacks are followed back home and the way the Irish people get in behind the Ireland team,” Payne said.
“I will probably get shot somewhere for saying this, but the way the Irish get behind their team, they're a lot more passionate.
"It's unbelievable to see match days where you're over in Rome, or somewhere, and there are Irish people filling the streets, full of beans and getting behind their team.
"Every game you get at Kingspan (Ravenhill), you get the fans out, rain, hail or shine and make a lot of noise. It is a lot better than you would get in the Super Rugby games. Some of the stadiums might be a bit bigger, but you get less people, so the atmosphere isn't as good.
"The New Zealand public do expect success. If you're in a Super team that's not doing so well, they tend to not to turn up as much. It's unparalleled, the support up in Ravenhill."
Having claimed RBS Six Nations glory with Ireland Payne now wants to earn silverware for Ulster in the Pro 12. "We've talked about it at Ulster for the last few years, we've learned from this final, we've learned from that result. You can't learn forever can you?"
"You've got to put it out there on the pitch. It's massive for us to win some silverware.
"It's definitely what we've set our stall out to do after getting knocked out of the Champions Cup.
"It will be huge for the team and the province to know that we can perform in a semi and a final and win something and not be the nearly men and finally put these so-called learnings to good use."
See More: Ireland, Jared Payne, Munster, Ulster
