There is often a crowd, so go early – it takes about 20 mins to walk to stadium from station (head right).

Trains can be VERY busy (esp the Clapham->Twick. Consider getting train to Richmond and walking (longer walk, but nicer). In Twickenham, if you go left from the station, you get to the pubs… cabbage patch is the really busy one. Go a bit further and it gets quieter…. but not much! Put it this way, if you were designing it today, you wouldn’t put things where they are now! Unlike football, expect crowd mixing and good natured banter. For a 2pm kickoff, I’d want to be in Twickenham noon latest (earlier if you want pub time). They sell beer at Twickenham itself, there’s a decent range of food there (varies each time) – and along the way people sell food from their front gardens (e.g. there always seemed to be a south african food stall from one house).

For first time. I’d get off at Twick – and follow the crowd! There will be coppers there, many fewer than you’d see at a footie game, they’re there due to the volume of people and that some are drinking, rather than any worries about trouble. HINT: On way back, it is quicker if you get train to Ascot – the trains to London are packed. If you’re not in a hurry, walk past station and go for food/drink – let the queues die down, Twickenham is a small station.

Rugby crowds tend to be less confrontational that footie crowds – though at an international there will be some idiots who boo the opposition etc. The rule of thumb is silence for a kick at goal, applaud the opposition, and frown at punters who don’t understand the thoroughly excellent ‘advantage’ rule!

This might be different if I were writing for a major newspaper – where it might affect player psychology – but I’m not.

Win or lose, me writing a few sentences is irrelevant.

As is me shouting at the TV. Still gonna shout, though.