Alistair Hignall (who became quite a good Sports Journalist) and who had been a pretty good International Full Back (for England) described the saturday morning of the Wales v France game in Cardiff during 1988 as "a scene of religious fervour". My new (English) wife, who has a faith couldn't believe how My parents and I (also Christians) just nodded with ascent at the description given. She's gotten used to the regular pilgrimages back to THE Stadium (Millenium) over the past 40 years. My daughter (born in 'Home Counties - NORTH') is more Welsh than me - she has CHOSEN to support Welsh rugby. I went to school with Rob Norster, I couldn't believe that he had no more 'conditioning' sessions regularly than I did playing 2nd XV rugby her in England. I enjoyed refereeing my time in English rugby, but I had huge problems being given more 'expenses' on my first RFU appointed game than I had been paying match fees a few weeks before.
Turned out well - for we English: Just! ... Steve Fenwick said we don't like them and they certainly don't like us. The latter might be true but I wouldn't say the former. As an Englishman the romance of Welsh rugby brings me joy!
Unfortunately there is an inaccuracy about 1989. England had already drawn with Scotland so when they came to the Wales game, which was the last game of that season, they will still on for the championship but not the grand slam.
And there were a few more tough times in the 1990s like the losses to the Samoans at the 1991 and 1999 World Cups Plus a few more hidings from the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks (one match against the Springboks was a 80 plus margin)
@@saganspirit From Ron Waldron to the chaos of professionalism you have a point. For the most part it was mindless self inflicted stupidity and we are are now right back in that groove again.
WRU pathetic and Wales fans just as bad. These lads gave absolutely everything and snubbed, insulted and good on them for standing up for each other. Some of the greatest names so badly treated. And ofcourse the Fin Western Nail the rag that it always has been. Good on Paul Thorburn ..Steven Jones only a feckin reporter.
*To modern viewers of the game of union, it's kind of hard to understand that not too long ago it was still very much an amateur game. There was hardly a penny or cent given to the players. It was mainly the fare of the upper class - and therefore private school elite. Working class people played, of course, but football was/is the people's game, not rugby union. Main event matches were enjoyed much like the Olympics are, but otherwise it's somewhat ignored. It was a completely different game before professionalism 'cleaned' it up to ensure their investments kept the money coming in and marketed it so that as many people as possible were aware it was there*
It has always been a middle class game in England _ still is Wales it was working class but look at the privately educated players in the Welsh squad now
@@bobbytreetop1701I was once told by a French guy, that back in the 70's and 80's French Rugby League Players converted to Union for the money Not to sure how much truth in this, but it does seem French Rugby Union had a more relaxed approach to player reimbursements, and giving players a more of a helping hand, as compared to the likes of Wales, NZ etc.
