The profile of the Welsh rugby team on the world stage belies the country’s small population of just under four million people.
In neighbouring England, football rules supreme and rugby union lies a distant second in the battle of the winter sporting codes.
In contrast, rugby union is the national sport of Wales, with only New Zealand able to boast similarly fanatical levels of support across all walks of life.
Notwithstanding some indifferent displays this year, Six Nations grand slams such as those delivered in 2005 and 2008 remain the expectation for a parochial local population.
The ability of a strongly performing Welsh rugby team to unite the population against a common foe, normally that unruly lot across the Severn Bridge, cannot be underestimated.
This Saturday however, that foe is the Wallabies as a prized southern hemisphere scalp is up for grabs in the first of the Cardiff autumn internationals.
On game days such as these spectators flood into Cardiff from the valleys and surrounding towns which ring the capital; the lifeblood of the nation’s rugby support flowing into its beating heart. Trains and buses into the city centre are awash with a sea of supporters decked out in red, spilling out into Central Square for the short march to Millennium Stadium.
The southern stand looming above the River Taff is the first sight that passengers arriving at Cardiff’s central station will see. Millennium Stadium is a dominant landmark within the city skyline; a spine-tingling sight that evokes the spirit of the old Cardiff Arms Park upon which it is built.
Inside the stadium, the enclosed roof adds deafening levels of volume to the electric atmosphere. More than 80,000 parochial Welsh supporters and a smattering of visiting fans pack into the steep seating arrangement which feels like it is almost on top of players at surface level below. Along with rugby, the Welsh national psyche is infused with song and the hymn ‘Land Of My Fathers’ reverberating around the ground during play is something to behold.
The swirling noise within this intimidating cauldron also causes problems for the visitors on the field, who struggle to hear anything above the din. While the cacophony is a true disadvantage for the away team, for onlookers it only adds to an awe-inspiring atmosphere matched by few others in world rugby.
Any Wallabies supporters lucky enough to be in Cardiff next weekend can expect a rowdy reception and some good-natured ribbing from their excitable but nervy hosts. No matter the result at the final whistle, the post-match banter in overflowing pubs along St Mary Street and at salubrious eateries on ‘Chippy Lane’ will be well-intentioned and humorous, if a little slurred.
Adding to the significance of the weekend’s encounter is the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2015 pool match, taking place between the two sides next October just two hundred miles away at Twickenham. The weight of expectation from the home fans will be just that bit heavier, while Michael Cheika’s Wallabies will no doubt be aware than an important psychological boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup in British conditions is up for grabs.
The Wallabies have an excellent recent record against the men in red, winning their last nine matches in succession. Although most of these wins have been fairly tight affairs, the last clash in 2013 saw the Wallabies unleash a second half onslaught to build an unassailable lead.
Where the Wallabies are at this time around however, is a little more complex. Mass upheaval has occurred behind the scenes as a result of the recent ill-fated Rugby Championship tour, resulting in a rookie international coach and some under-fire players facing their first true European Test after the Barbarians tune-up at Twickenham.
Wales also come into the match facing question marks, thanks to some ponderous early season form and the omission of Lions tourists James Hook and Adam Jones from Warren Gatland’s squad.
For the Wallabies, a loss in Cardiff would heap further pressure upon the squad who desperately need to win in emphatic fashion following recent dramas. However, should the Welsh manage their first win against the Wallabies since 2008 in spite of recent form, you would be hard pressed to begrudge the boyos their moment of glory.
richard
Guest
Argentina aren't Wales!
ant
Guest
Well said.... and Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhada is not a hymn!
Jibba Jabba
Guest
So that why there is a lack of 'real' men in Wales....
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Wales & NZ have similar size populations - SA is about 10 times theirs.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Adsa, the curry chips are outstanding and a staple over there. I wish we did them here !
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
Dont forget Arg won against Aus.
Adsa
Guest
Worlds that is so similar to my trip to Cardiff in 1995, I remember after my first late night lock in at a pub, finding a food place that served chips with your curry.
Lion Down Under
Guest
They've changed the surface to the same one used at Twickenham (though it's still grown outside on pallets and just put in for the games due to the shadow that the roof throws onto the pitch) so it will be interesting to see how it holds up. I hope it's good. Of course they could have put in a state-of-the-art 4G artificial pitch as Cardiff RFC have next door at the Cardiff Arms Park for about half the money. But UEFA/FIFA haven't allowed any Champions League/International matches on 4G pitches yet. The CEO of the WRU - Roger Lewis - is still labouring under the delusion that the Millennium Stadium will be awarded a Champions League Final or Wales will be chosen to host (probably jointly with Scotland and Ireland) a European Championship. This is despite UEFA making crystal clear that Cardiff doesn't meet the criteria due to lack of hotel rooms and lack of destinations served by Cardiff International Airport. Even Michel Platini's mental "multi-host Euro '16" doesn't include Cardiff as a venue; though Baku, Azerbaijan gets a few games. As Lewis is also CEO of the Cardiff Regional Area who own the airport and thick as thieves with the Welsh Labour government he has obvious conflicts of interest here.
The Sheriff
Guest
Millenium Stadium does not have, and has never had, a surface fit for international rugby. It is dangerous to play on. Someone will get a broken neck soon and that may be the end of it.
Mike
Guest
Too much uncertainty about this Wallabies team to say. After the Wales game, England will have more of an idea of what to expect.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
good first piece Stevjam. There is very little between these two teams despite the Wallas getting the wins, they have been fortunate to come away with a few of them. I don't agree that the Wallas must win emphatically. After three straight losses they will take the win which ever way they can. i wouldn't be surprised if the boyos get the win as they are due. Better they win now then in the group game !!! I have fond memories of Wales, spent a little bit of time there in 1995. My mate and I got off the bus in Cardiff and went straight to the Arms Park, just walked in with our backpacks on and there we were on the field getting photos, just brilliant. We then went up the Coast and stayed with another mate in Llanon who was engaged to a local girl. We played in the Llanon 7's which was a good tournament. Plenty of late night lock in's etc... Just a great time !
richard
Guest
Don't agree.I think back to the Robbie Deans era,and the close wins an ordinary WBs outfit was able to squeeze out. The Welsh will be beaten,because when it comes down to it,they don't have the self-belief to win.
Stevjam
Guest
This article was published far quicker than I thought it would be! The game is next Saturday 8th ...
Cleveland
Guest
This Saturday or next Saturday?
Stevjam
Guest
Thanks for the comments. Long time reader, first time contributor here. The 'mass upheaval' all started after the altercation during the SA-Brazil flight on tour, so that's what I was referring to there. Also no denying the Cardiff-Swansea football rivalry, its probably escalated since my time there in the late 2000s as both are in the EPL. And yep rugby definitely dominates the white population of SA but football is a clear no. 1 for the non-white majority ..
Firstxv
Guest
Football is bigger in SA I've learned from my learned SA Roarers...
Firstxv
Guest
perhaps he meant due to the incident while on tour perhaps?
Rox
Guest
In contrast, rugby union is the national sport of Wales, with only New Zealand able to boast similarly fanatical levels of support across all walks of life. Umm, I think you forgot South Africa!
Lion Down Under
Guest
This is a pretty (very?) romanticised view of Welsh rugby, its supporters and even Cardiff itself. The Autumn Internationals (EOYT to Aussie fans) haven't sold out in Cardiff for years now. Where once 6Ns tickets were like gold dustthey can now be picked up without too much digging. The crowd at the Millenium Stadium has gone from a knowledgeable rugby crowd singing hymns and arias led by, or leading, the St Albans Band and reacting to the ebb and flow of the game to drunk "theatre-goers" and the "sparkly pink cowboy hat brigade" trying to get their fancy- dressed mush on TV, screaming "give it to Shaaaane!!!!" even though he retired years ago, constantly standing up and walking to the bar during the game and chatting about Premiership football as they have no real idea what's going on in front of them. The massive fights in Welsh rugby and the ancient, gravy-training WRU Board concentrating everything on the National Team, actively trying to destroy the professional teams and completely ignoring the community game has had a terrible effect on Welsh rugby. Association football has always been bigger than rugby in Wales both in players and supporters but rugby genuinely was the "National sport" in that there was a strong core of very knowledgeable fans and the Welsh rugby team united the nation in support in a way the association football team didn't. We are probably getting to the point where this is no longer true. On a brighter note the WRU have just voted Gareth Davies as Chairman and he will implement reform and fully back the sub-international professional game. But he will have to overcome a lot of challenges and internal resistance. Finally no-one in Cardiff (or anyone in south Wales except the thickest Valley Commando) calls it "Chippy Lane" or "Chip Alley". It is Caroline Street.
Jus de couchon
Guest
Most Welshmen don't like rugby. They like Soccer. Fact,