The boys did us proud today – I know they lost to France but the first half was a brilliant back and forth game which, for the most part, led to Wales just keeping a couple of points in front.
They had certainly had a rousing pre-match sing song with Max Boyce belting out his rewritten lyrics to Hymns and Arias bringing in references to the French, Mothers’ Day and the daffodils in bloom.
He even managed to get in a dig about the ban on singing Delilah.
During that first half the Welsh played the sort of game I remember from the 60s and 70s. When the ball was passed in many cases the player did not look for someone to pass to but took it that someone would be there to receive it.
This is a new team and they are still getting to know one another, by the end of the Six Nations they will be a cohesive unit and they will be able to grow their game.
Through most of the game there was a touch of turn and turn about as one side went a couple of points ahead then the other would score until it came to a point when a French try was disallowed (it was “their turn” to take the lead) and Wales had a chance to then increase the lead.
As it happened by part way through the second half the French had managed two scores, rather than the turn and turn about, and, hard as they tried, Wales were unable to make any more breaks in the French defence.
The final score was disappointing, but the knowledge that they had played their best and could only get better was a form of balm.
The games when one side loses by just one or two points often leads to comments from both sides about a good game well played which could have gone either way.
Then again there are other squads who will treat a one point win as though it was a major rout and work on the basis there always has to be a winner and a loser, and losers are losers.
I am sure there are squads who will recognise themselves. Mind you it’s quite possible they have reached a point where they do not recognise themselves and consider themselves good sportsmen.
Robin's Nest 