Living in Wales (which I think is the only country along with NZ where rugby is the national sport) me & my mates talk rugby all the time. It's just a way of life down here. Only this week we've excitedly booked out hotel for the first Friday night 6N game in Paris next year and are hoping to have as good a time as we did in Dublin this year.
Obviously what with being European Champions and everything at the moment it's not a bad time to be a Welsh fan. And whilst Wales have been here before and then imploded (2005 anyone) I'm hoping this time that with Gatland & Edwards at the helm we'll see a bit of continued success for a change. The big test now is to perform against the SH big 3 and that starts in about 5 weeks with 2 Tests against the World Champions in their own backyard. I think it's going to be a really big ask for Wales to win one of those Tests, especially as we've had a couple of big injury blows lately losing Mike Phillips and Gavin Henson who are two of our more abrasive, physical backs which we really could have done with against the Boks. Have to wait and see I guess.
And as chuck said, there's not really such a thing as an International friendly in rugby (other perhaps than when one of the top 8 sides play a weaker side, like Scotland or someone
) And I don't have a club side in Rugby, I just support Wales. Admittedly that's because the team I did support (Bridgend) who became the Celtic Warriors when regional rugby started here were shat on by the WRU but there you go. I always want the Welsh regions to do well against non Welsh opposition but its really Wales that gets all my main support.
Like NZ, Wales from next season have also imposed a 'if you don't play in Wales you can't play for your country rule' (with the exception of players already plying their trade outside of the fair country) which is a brave step by Gatland, especially given the amount of foreign imports at regional level. And it will certainly be interesting to see how the ABs fare without all those stars for the next year or two before they return for the next World Cup.
And as an aside, chuck, what's your take on the ELVs? They've just implemented them globally (for a 12 month trial basis) from 1 August and most people seem to be against them over here. It seems to be a classic case of North v South with us moaning about how the Aussies just want to turn the game into Rugby League. Plus, although being Welsh and obviously enjoying scintillating back play, there is something great to watch about 140 odd stone of rolling maul driving forward.
The trial is also i think going to give the SH teams a slight advantage in the Autumn Internationals over here as all the S14 players will have already had a full season under the new rules whereas the NH teams will be playing them for the first time at Test Level...