The last time I talked rugby with the late Eddie Butler was on The Rugby Paper podcast, not long after the 2022 Six Nations, when there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the wake of a Wales home defeat against Italy – remember Ange Capuozzo creating that late match winner? – and the generally perceived awfulness of the national team, which had narrowly avoided the wooden spoon.
It was all doom and gloom over the bridge and the skies have hardly brightened since.

Eddie, below, though, remained philosophical, borderline upbeat, and voiced the conviction that I have also held for a whil...