Despite what Lionel Ritchie says Sunday mornings have been anything but easy for Wales fans this last month.

In fact the day of rest has become, in ascending, order the day of pride, the day of relief, and the day of heartbreak after matches against Australia France and South Africa, all of which have taken place on Sunday mornings during this Rugby World Cup.

Spending Sunday afternoons in a mentally exhausted haze had become the norm, and yesterday was the last and ultimately the hardest to deal with.

South Africa proved to be a step too far for Warren Gatland and his men, and whilst Sunday morning became a Sunday mourning, the gut wrenching disappointment is masked with huge pride for what Wales have acheived.

As in 2011 we dared to dream of making the final, and at half time yesterday Wales were only three points adrift their injury toll lengthened, but the dream was still alive and with five minutes to go with the scores level at 16-16.

Alun Wyn cracked at the post match interview and as his eyes welled up the whole nations bottom lip quivered, the bond between the national team and its fans has never been stronger, and that collective spirit will be a huge comfort in the days weeks and months ahead.

For Wales this is not end, the future looks bright, but at the moment the immediate past is proving rather difficult to process and accept.

To add insult to injuries Wales have to face New Zealand in four days time in a meaningless 3rd/4th place play off match, with the casualties the men in red have incurred the team that takes the field will be nowhere near full or even half strength, surely it would be far better to leave the tournament following a brutal physical encounter with pride at the semi final stage.

By this time next week we will know the winners of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and if anyone cares, who indeed who has come third and fourth.

Sunday mornings will now change dramatically, they are going be an awful lot more relaxing from now on, we won’t be emotionally wrung out by noon, and may even able to hold a coherent conversation by mid afternoon, but you know what, in a strange and sadistic way we ain’t half going to miss them.