So, we won the 6 nations

Happy days, we won.

To be fair it was one of the best days of my life, as I was there in Cardiff, shouting and singing like a loon.
But the aftermath (I.e. the extreme gloating on facebook) has left a little bit of a sour taste for me.

Paul Brown (An American football coach) is quoted as saying
"When you win say nothing, when you lose, say less."

But that's something we Welsh have great trouble in doing in regards to the English.  We had to win by 7 points to take the championship, but most of us didn't really care about the championship we just cared about beating the English!

Why are we like that? Is it a rugby thing, or is it a bit more serious than that.  I'd say both....



One of the England players said at the start of the tournament that if the world cup was played now we'd win it.  Oh get over yourself.  Yes, you played well against the all blacks, but half of them had a stomach bug which meant they had one eye on the nearest loo.  Its things like this that makes us take pleasure in beating you, oh and don't get me started on Chris Ashton and his diving over the line!

English rugby has always made out it was superior to the other home nations.  I think, mainly due to in the amateur days when English players were bankers and RAF personnel and the Welsh were miners and labourers (My personal favourite was the Fijian player who's profession was listed as Piano mover)  In the professional era that doesn't hold true but they still try it.  Yes, they won the word cup, but that was ten years ago.  They still go on about the 1966 football world cup.

But it think it goes deeper.  I consider myself Welsh first, British second and I always find it very galling that the English and British Anthems are the same.  Every time we hear it, it kind of rubs salt in the wounds and reminds us that the English conquered us, hundreds of years ago.  Look i'm suggesting Welsh independence  that'll never work with the work ethic we have, but a little consideration.  If you think it winds us up, talk to a Scot!

The press make it worse.  Its the same thing as when Andy Murray wins in the Tennis he's British, but when he loses he's Scottish.  The Americans hardly know what Britain is, but they know England.  The American from, "you're from Wales, England?" Is enough to make the blood boil.  I usually reply with No, are you from American, Canada?"

I'm starting to rant now, which was no the point of this post, So I'll finish with this.  The word Britain comes from an old Welsh word, so why do we the people who helped name a nation, get made to feel we're not fully part of it?