“We paid our weekly shilling for that January trip
A long weekend in London, aye, without a bit of kip
There’s a seat reserved for beer by the boys from Abercarn:
There’s beer, pontoon, crisps and fags and a croakin Calon Lan“

Times have changed dramatically since Max Boyce penned Hymns & Arias. For a start that January trip now takes place in February, and the guaranteed Wales win has long since evaporated.

For many, England v Wales at Twickenham is no longer a case of “Rolling into Paddington with an empty crate of ale” but rather a day trip by car with pit stops at Leigh Delamere and Reading M4 Eastbound services, where swathes of red clad caffeine depleted individuals endure longer queues at Costa and Pret than those at the gates of the stadium itself.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the desire of Welsh fans to “just win this one please”.

This legendary trip has been a rite of passage for generations of Welsh fans and continues to be so.

For those of us still doing missionary work on the wrong side of the River Severn, a Welsh win makes the next twelve months just that little bit more bearable with bragging rights secured.

The great JPR Williams who sadly left us last month, used to roam these fields like a proud stallion, Twickenham was a happy hunting ground for him, and it seems implausible to think it was 48 years ago that I was here watching him tear England apart with two tries, and a million tackles, with a face full of ever increasing stitches.

The current crop of Wales fans had travelled more in hope than expectation following their opening day one point heart-stopping defeat to Scotland in Cardiff.

The match ended in a single point victory to England, but it also ended with a feeling that this young Welsh outfit have something a little bit special about them further down the road.

With the backdrop of a glorious sunset in south west London, Wales came intent to express themselves, to play without fear and give reign to the wonderful skills they displayed in the second half against Scotland.

Wales took the game to England and with a blink of an eye a penalty try and an England yellow card ensued and the boys in red were 7-0 up.

Ben Earl scored for England with a rampaging run from a five metre scrum before Alex Mann finished off a wonderful Welsh move and Ioan Lloyd’s conversion gave Wales a 14-5 half time lead.

Incredibly Wales didn’t concede a single penalty in that first half, sadly they also didn’t score a single point in the second period.

England scored 11 unanswered points in the second half through a Fraser Dingwall try and two Penalties from Ford. Wales finally surrendered the lead in the 71st minute and couldn’t find field position in the last nine minutes to attempt a score to clinch victory.

So no Hymns and Arias this time around for Welsh fans but there is plenty to optimistic about. Cammy Winnett the 21 year old earning only his second cap looks calm composed and to the manor born on the international stage.

Alex Mann with two tries in two appearances looks a star in the making, and Tommy Reffell was his wonderful best yesterday.

Max Boyce’s “Hymns and Arias” epic endures even now, fifty years later. Sadly the subject one of its most popular lines is no longer with us.

The management team of Heaven RFC decided they could wait no longer to secure the services of the greatest fly half I have ever seen. Barry John left us last Sunday, and his presence hung over Twickenham, the crowd even sang God Save The King before kick off and you get much better than that.

Hymns and Arias indeed and I leave you with Max’s immortal line

“But Will is very happy though his money has all gone, he swapped five photos of his wife for one of Barry John”