MEN of Harlech march to glory - the old emotional anthem is carousing once more at its most magisterial timbre throughout the Principality.

The climax of the 6-Nations rugby union championship was as rousing as has ever been with Wales roaring like the daring, dreadnought dragon of old to seize their first Grand Slam conquest in 27 years.

As Scotland continue to founder, England undergo the trials of transition, France flatter to deceive, Ireland fail to fulfil the bookies' optimism and Italy continue to turn up, it was Wales who took up the challenge, the cudgels and the gauntlet in rampaging style to restore a red-tinged sheen to the northern hemisphere crown.

It was without doubt a magnificent triumph, one to equal those long-haired legends of yesteryear when Bill McLaren's commentary was still in its resonant pomp.

To the evocative echoes of Barry John, David and Jonathan Edwards, JJ Williams and JPR Williams, can now be added the likes of Dwayne Peel, Shane and Martyn Williams, Gavin Henson and Gareth Thomas, whose panache and dash sliced through the rest of their rivals.

How fitting too that the finale should come at a passion-drenched Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, which is rapidly establishing itself as one of the world's premier arenas. If you're going to rule the roost then how sweet it is to accomplish that feat in your own backyard.

But domestic domination is not where the Welsh want to parade on their laurels. In the wake of much celebration and Welsh whooping the lyrical talk is not simply of wresting the 6-Nations' crown and defending it, but indeed of toppling the globe by deposing England when the World Cup is next played in France in just over two years' time.

Coach Mike Ruddock believes his fleet-footed wonders will peak in France as he seeks to build on the platform of this winter's spring into 15-a-side pre-eminence. It's a prospect that should not only fire the imagination of Wales' union fervour but should do even more to concentrate the rest of the domestic camps who have been left trailing in the silver-heeled jet-stream of Messrs Henson and Co.

But oh, how John Toshack must be envious of such handsome, have-a-go hwyl. The recently-appointed national football team coach faces the considerable mission of trying to steer Wales to World Cup qualification.

Wales' round-ball practitioners take to the same Millennium Stadium turf this Saturday in a group qualifier against Austria. No doubt the stadium will reverberate with passion for the red-clad ranks.

But bizarrely Toshack, himself a Welsh international of no mean repute, goes into the first of back-to-back battles against the Austrians minus the undiluted, undiminished fervour of midfield enforcer Robbie Savage.

Beset by several crucial retirements from the international stage of such Welsh luminaries as Gary Speed after last winter's World Cup defeat in Cardiff to England, Toshack told Savage that he would not start in the brace of duels against Austria. Promptly, Savage, now of Blackburn Rovers after his acrimonious split from Birmingham City, announced he would quit the international circuit.

The loss of Savage is a major blow to Welsh hopes of pegging back England, who also re-open their qualifying campaign against Northern Ireland on Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford.

Love him or loathe him, and I am in the minority who believe Savage is more than just sinew and muscle in the midfield battle-zone, his desire to shine for his country has blazed as fiercely as a dragon's flame. No-one could ever doubt his commitment.

It's a potentially back-firing gamble just as the hillsides and valleys are scorching with sporting ardour. This time next week it could be men of heart-ache and not Harlech.

Updated: 08:38 Tuesday, March 22, 2005