Though a confirmed devotee of the spherical ball, I could not resist tuning in to witness Wales’s emphatic completion of the Grand Slam with the ovoid variety at the Millennium Stadium yesterday. It was a delight to watch and reminded me of the 1970s, when even I would make regular forays to the Arms Park and Twickenham, following what is generally regarded as the best Welsh international side ever.
On one memorable occasion in 1975, in the company of my friend Wyn Jones, now Plaid Cymru leader in the Welsh Assembly, I even journeyed in a rented white minivan to Murrayfield, where, alas, the Scots prevailed 12 -10, and we were left depressed and roomless for the night (we hadn’t thought that far ahead).
So, overall, I was pretty pleased to see Wales back on top again. If it carries on like this I may even watch more rugby next year. But not if the consequence of a Welsh victory is another example of verbal incontinence such as this from Rhodri Morgan:
"This team is playing with a ruthless defensive efficiency, combined with traditional Welsh attacking flair.
"What Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards have done is to turn the men in red into men of steel, just like the Welsh teams of the golden years thirty years ago.
"We can now all say proudly that we are the champions of Europe and champions of the Northern Hemisphere. Bring on the Southern Hemisphere."
On one memorable occasion in 1975, in the company of my friend Wyn Jones, now Plaid Cymru leader in the Welsh Assembly, I even journeyed in a rented white minivan to Murrayfield, where, alas, the Scots prevailed 12 -10, and we were left depressed and roomless for the night (we hadn’t thought that far ahead).
So, overall, I was pretty pleased to see Wales back on top again. If it carries on like this I may even watch more rugby next year. But not if the consequence of a Welsh victory is another example of verbal incontinence such as this from Rhodri Morgan:
"This team is playing with a ruthless defensive efficiency, combined with traditional Welsh attacking flair.
"What Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards have done is to turn the men in red into men of steel, just like the Welsh teams of the golden years thirty years ago.
"We can now all say proudly that we are the champions of Europe and champions of the Northern Hemisphere. Bring on the Southern Hemisphere."
Why does Rhodri Morgan feel obliged to use almost every passing occasion as an opportunity for an outpouring of international-standard hyperbole and world-class, free-form drivel?
Can’t he just learn to enjoy the warm feeling of quiet, smug satisfaction at having stuffed not only the English, but (best of all!) the French, too?
Can’t he just learn to enjoy the warm feeling of quiet, smug satisfaction at having stuffed not only the English, but (best of all!) the French, too?
3 comments:
Rent a quote, rent a gob!
You once advised me to "savour the victory,!" perhaps in this case Rhodri should have done so to!
At least he has had his hair cut, looks almost normal now!
Talking of balls, you lstened to a plenary session recently?
Great to record for insomniacs!
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