From Gwlad Rugby:

Kiri te Kanawa, Philip Schofield, Russell Crowe, Edmund Hillary, Shane Howarth ("Are you sure about this one?" - Ed) - your boys took one hell of a beating!

Steve Hansen - an apology

Since he took over from Graham Henry in February 2002, Gwlad, along with many of our colleagues in the media, may have given the impression that we thought Steve Hansen was the worst rugby coach ever to don a tracksuit.

Headlines such as "Shove your pods up your arse", and "F@ck off back to Hobbit-land, Mr Misery" may have suggested we had little respect for the former Canterbury forwards coach.

However, following Sunday's impressive display by our second team against the mighty All Blacks, we have realised that Mr Hansen is in fact a tactical genius whose motivational skills make Alex Ferguson look like Iain Duncan Smith.

We unreservedly apologise for any confusion which may have been caused.

Gwlad will shortly be organising a petition to have our Patron Saint David replaced by "St. Steve", and a holy shrine consecrated in Lisvane so Welsh rugby may have a place of pilgrimage where we may honour him.

We reserve the right to withdraw our apology should we get smeared by England on Sunday, in which case, pack your bags, you sour-faced cretin. And take the short-arsed schoolboy from Neath with you.


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