Clap, clap, clap. That’s our take on atmosphere

Come on New Zealand, let’s get hostile. Andy Martin wants us to make life difficult for Peru. He wants us to show some passion. This is take your shirt off while celebrating a goal type stuff, and don’t worry about the subsequent yellow card.

‘‘We’ll do everything we can on the field, but what can you do off it?’’ he asks.

The stakes are high as the All Whites attempt to qualify for what would be just their third ever World Cup, with New Zealand Football set to pocket US$10 million just by reaching Russia.

Let’s hope Martin’s message gets through because, from my experience of attending live sport, we don’t exactly do passion very well, let alone create anything that resembles the type of hostile environment that will strike fear into the opposition (who, might I add, regular play in stadiums packed full of the sport’s most passionate fans).

Excuse the shift to rugby for a moment – it is our national game after all – but do you really think the British and Irish Lions were quaking in their boots when they heard ‘‘All Blacks, clap, clap, clap’’ echoing throughout Eden Park during their recent tour? What about the response from the Lions supporters belting out ‘‘Lions, Lions, Lions’’ on repeat. Is that still giving you nightmares?

How about the banging of thundersticks at the netball? Maybe the progressively faster clap as the medium-pace bowler strides through his run up? Jeez, wave the white flag already!

In fact, I point to the dull atmosphere as a key reason why crowd numbers are dwindling at live sport across the country, because the experience is no longer that superior to watching on TV.

The Wellington Sevens was such a hit when there was a party to attend in the stands. Not so much once the party stopped.

Our idea of atmosphere at sport is sitting on our bums, passively clapping and occasionally cheering when our team scores. Someone’s dad is probably mumbling ‘‘he’s-been-doing-it-allday’’ as if it is just one word.

Maybe we are just shy. But there is still time for us to step out of our comfort zone, stand in unison with the White Noise and help send our team to Lima for the second leg with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup. They just need to hear us.

Our idea of atmosphere at sport is sitting on our bums.