Let’s hail our heroes, their day will come

THE smaller question coming into this Grand Slam decider in Dublin yesterday was straightforward — which popular people’s anthem would prevail? Would it be Athenry or Sweet Chariots — sung by the way with almost equal volume as thousands of English managed to secure those gold-plated black-market tickets?

In the event, well, no need to elaborate. Long before the final whistle the good-humoured visiting hordes were in full voice and more power to them. Having denied England two years ago when we had nothing but pride going for ourselves, to begrudge them their celebrations yesterday would be small, narrow and petty.

So congratulations England, enjoy, because you earned this the hard way, the gutsy way.