Why wasn’t there a world cup in the 1970’s there’s no doubt we would have won it at least once.

JPR, Gerald, Merv, Gareth, Syd, Ray, JJ, Benny, The King,now they would have produced the goods.

Sadly I see Wales and the Rugby World Cup as a four yearly emotional Everest where sometimes we never get past base camp, and occasionally turn up in inappropriate footwear and a t-shirt.

I wont drag you through my personal turmoil since the first tournament in 1987, but actually the inaugural tournament went quite well.

Apart from an absolute thrashing by the All Blacks in the semi final, we actually finished 3rd, beating Ireland in the group stages, England in the Quarters, and Australia in the 3rd place play-off, but in true Wales style it was a last-minute conversion from the touch-line that won the match, wouldn’t do to win a match comfortably would it ?

Since then its been sadness in South Africa, Woe in Wales, Agony in Australia and Fiji in France. AND you only have to say Sam.. and you immediately think red card, Numbness in New Zealand

I still relive that match thinking if Leigh Halfpenny had been our regular goal kicker at that time we would have got through to the final.

And here we are again in 2015, hoping for Ecstasy in England, (I can’t think of any bad word beginning with E, so maybe its a portent).

A part of me is excited beyond belief that we are playing England and Australia, but then I’m already looking ahead with panic at a potential situation where we have to beat Australia in the final group match to qualify for the knock out stages.

Maybe as part of our national psyche the sporting gods sprinkle on our sport all consuming emotions either good or bad, because that’s the way we really like it.

This time, please can we do it, and can we do it without the gut wrenching agony ?

If there was Karma in sport, then after the semi final in 2011, it is assured that we will be playing in the final, at Twickenham, against the All Blacks on Saturday 31 October.

If it happens send me a tweet, I will probably be behind the sofa !