Why I’ve got a dragon tattoo *
THIS weekend I’m The Boy With The Dragon Tattoo. It’s not a permanent mark. I’ll wash it off later, of course. But for a couple of days I’ve decided to be Welsh.
This is a wonderful 48 hours for Wales on the sporting battlefields of rugby union, football and boxing. The Principality might not be the land of my fathers (or ffathers as the Welsh prefer) but I’m still finding it remarkably uncomplicated to root for them this weekend, particularly as they lay siege to the two great English sporting citadels of Twickenham and Wembley.
Frankly, I imagine it isn’t always easy being Welsh — although you won’t find me saying so in print. They spend their lives putting up with sheep jokes, being called ‘Taff ’ and explaining patiently to American visitors that their place of birth is not a part of England.
The language itself sounds a bit like a phlegmy cough, they have contributed little to the pantheon of world cuisine beyond ‘Welsh rarebit’ — translation ‘cheese on toast’ — and while Wales can be stunning geographically, the landscape is slowly, but steadily, being consumed by sheep (see the previous sheep joke complaint).
But this weekend, who cares? Wales is proudly on tour. The Red Dragon pennants will be flying high in hope and expectation as they have the chance to roundly embarrass England not once, but twice on an epic weekend.
Where better to start than at Twickenham and the Six Nations? The Welsh are firm favourites to power past a pedestrian England side still trying to find some coherence under Stuart Lancaster’s interim leadership.
This is where the expectation will weigh heavily. Wales have won only once at the English HQ in 24 years, but despite that record anything short of an outright victory today would be a serious setback.
For although the Welsh have earned praise of late under Warren Gatland, a reputation burnished during the World Cup Finals in New Zealand, they have not delivered any tangible return.
Wales have yet to beat anyone of consequence aside from Ireland, the only side ranked in the top six they have overcome. And, in the global pecking order, they still lag behind an England side who are performing with all the spontaneity of a row of concrete bollards.
Gatland’s men lost to South Africa, France and Australia at the World Cup, however ‘bravely’ they succumbed, and went down again to Australia at home three months ago.
But if they can conquer their tendency to give away fouls through indiscipline, a Triple Crown should be the least this Wales side can accomplish. A Grand Slam would be a genuine sign their potential is finally being realised.
Then the Red Dragon flags move on to Wembley tomorrow for the Carling Cup Final as Cardiff City face Liverpool in a clash where the Welsh will assume the more familiar role of underdog.
Logic says this should be a walkover for the Premier League outfit, the start of Kenny Dalglish’s silverware collection second time around at Anfield, and a bruising day for Welsh pride.
But Cardiff will be awkward opponents and, in Malky Mackay, they have another bright, young manager who, just like Brendan Rodgers at Swansea City, is destined for greater things.
What’s more, Cardiff are old stagers at Wembley, making their third visit in five seasons. For Liverpool, it is more unfamiliar territory. Their last visit to the national stadium was in 1996, the day of the i nfamous white suits and an FA Cup final defeat against Manchester United under the old Twin Towers.
Even so, the Welsh are rank outsiders, but as in all cup games Cardiff have a puncher’s chance, something Nathan Cleverly knows all about.
The Caerphilly-born fighter, one of Britain’s two remaining world champions, defends his WBO light-heavyweight title against the American Tommy Karpency in Cardiff tonight.
It is the first world title fight on Welsh soil since Gavin Rees lost his WBA light-welterweight belt to Andreas Kotelnik in 2008 and marks an important occasion for Cleverly and for British boxing after a truly shameful week.
Cleverly succinctly summed up the challenges ahead for the Welshmen involved this weekend, be it on the rugby field, football pitch or in the ring: ‘You may be from a small valley town in a small country, but you can conquer the world,’ he said.
How true. Wales has a trio of glorious opportunities this weekend, so I’m quite happy that y Ddraig
Goch ddyry gychwyn.
(For English readers who believe I may have accidentally leant on the keyboard there, this translates as: ‘The Red Dragon will show the way.’)
It will be fun following. What’s more, I also got through an entire piece about Wales without once mentioning Max Boyce.
Oh blast.