Six Nations

What is it about the Six Nations that brings out the best in rugby and rugby fans while bringing out the worst in those competing? This must be one of the only competitions in the world where you can take the starting prices, turn them completely on their heads, and be almost guaranteed of at least getting your money back at the bookies.However, what has been most interesting about this latest coming together of the Home Nations… and France… oh and Italy, too (explain that one to an outsider), is the elevation to celebrity status of certain players, the sudden media interest in the behind the scenes rivalry and the internecine strife.Since when did the Welsh coach leaving matter to anyone outside of Wales and the Welsh team coach? And yet this year the spotlight already burning the pomade off slick-backed pretty boy and arch-tanning salon frequenter Gavin Henson has moved just a little up the ladder and picked out the hasty and somewhat smoke-and-mirror obscured departure of Wales boss Mike Ruddock.How quickly the glory days have disappeared. Just twelve months ago Welsh rugby was resurgent following the shock capturing of the Six Nations Trophy – the sort of unexpected foible that makes the game so wonderful – and Henson, Ruddock et al were the toast of the Valleys.This week, apparently, there were some Welsh men, whisper who dares, left Dublin actually pleased their team had lost, so ashamed were they of the situation that has been allowed to run unchecked by the WRU – and many feel caused by them. Last year’s Grand Slam has been forgotten as daffodils drooped and leeks went limp in the media’s harsh glare.Bad blood, bad feeling and apparently bad hearing are left in their place. While the English game had an administration full of old farts, the Welsh one is peopled by those who didn’t quite hear the question and certainly don’t want to answer it.Grand Slam winning coach Ruddock officially resigned but quickly demanded a meeting with the Welsh Rugby Union to clarify his position once he heard that that was the case. Did he jump or was he pushed? Did the players persuade him to jump, give him the push or just look the other way when he fell? It looks like we may never know – at least until Ruddock follows up that oh so controversial My Grand Slam Year with the next chapter: My Fake Tan Year. Certainly what the Welsh who didn’t quite mind a drubbing off the Irish as they would in other circumstances want is an honest appraisal of what did happen and a heartfelt vote of thanks to the departing Ruddock. It is a pity that the fervour for the truth, while being deflected quite happily by the WRU, was swung onto archetypally honest Wales captain Gareth Thomas and contributed to his collapse after a TV grilling by former players who should have known better.The innocent are always the ones to suffer, it would seem.

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com