THE rugby clubs in Wales were full on Saturday, as were those other licensed premises that had televisions tuned into the rugby. My local club on the banks of the Usk had not known anything like it. Men, women and children of all ages were there.
This was to a large extent because of the grand-slam effect, responding enthusiastically to the unexpected but thrilling success last season. This may have swelled the crowd and ensured during the long afternoon — with events at Lansdowne Road first on show — that the beer had run out by 4.30, while events at Twickenham were still in progress.
This may have been the case for the rest of Britain, too. For sure, it was feverish in Wales, where survive the most loyal supporters of all. I wonder, for instance, would the long waiting list for tickets at Twickenham and the gregarious fun of the hospitality suites remain were England to suffer the long journey into the night of failure and upheaval that Wales have endured over the past decade and more. Wales have kept the faith, but would England, or any of the others? With England’s sophisticated systems in place and success continuing, we are not likely to find out, except, of course, if the simmering feud between clubs and country were to go on. A longstanding quarrel could cause unease. There is no end in sight and, by all accounts, never likely to be. The RBS Six Nations Championship, and its place in the scheme of things, forms part of the dilemma and the tension.
The sheer seductive allure of the tournament is hard to beat. There may be the occasional frustration and disappointment, but it rarely lets us down. Expectations are fulfilled to the point that even the unexpected can be expected to happen.
Full marks must go to Scotland for turning all predictions on their head against France. No one gave them a chance. The remarkable events at Murrayfield have opened up the championship, so who is brave enough to tell what the final outcome will be? Scotland have not enjoyed the best of fortune. They have been in low spirits, which has been epitomised by the empty corners that greet each game. The Princess Royal has nonetheless remained loyal.
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Such a turn-up as she witnessed on Sunday is not that strange a phenomenon in Edinburgh. It has not been unknown for the bagpipes to resound to unexpected victories. England, who by and large over the past decade have found the place a happy hunting ground, will have to go there this season. They will retain memories of the confidence they held in 1990 and 2000, only to return empty-handed each time. Once again the Scots proved that when the call comes, even their journeyman players fill their jerseys and are capable of performing extraordinary deeds.
England will have felt pleased with events on their own patch against Wales but would be wise to be more modest in their assessment of what they achieved. For example, they are unlikely to be handed 14 points on a plate, as they were at Twickenham — the tries by Matt Dawson and Lawrence Dallaglio — when there were clear transgressions.
It is of happy matter for the championship, too, that Italy drove Ireland close in Dublin. It was a brave decision on the part of the authorities to include Italy in 2000, seeing, to begin with, that they would be considered no more than cannon fodder. Wales and Scotland have lost in Rome. Italy may not yet be consistent, but time and the experience of being a part of an annual competition will fuel their ambitions.
France and Ireland will have returned to their camps to lick their wounds and to see whether they can recapture the form that deserted them last weekend. Scotland will arrive in Cardiff with a new optimism, while Wales will worry to what extent the Twickenham experience will have damaged their morale. Such is the emotional rollercoaster ride of the Six Nations Championship.