Tackling was below him

J.P.R. Williams admits to surprise at [Barry] John's heroics. 'What was great about Barry was that we all knew he was never going to tackle,' he laughs. 'If the opposition had the ball I would move forward behind Barry to tackle. Tackling was below him. But with the pressure we were under with the French even Barry tackled for the first time in his life.'

D. Tossell, Nobody beats us: the inside story of the 1970s Wales rugby team, (2009), 107

Soccer, a game which in my opinion, might, with profit, have been reserved for girls

'There are three sports played in this area at this time of year,' Platt said. 'One is soccer, a game which in my opinion, might, with profit, have been reserved for girls; one is rugby league, which is played very largely by people for money; and the third is rugby union, a fair and equitable game, played at our oldest universities as well as by all our major public schools. It is a game conceived by and therefore, quite naturally, played by gentlemen[.]

D. Storey, Saville (1976), 148

I saw John the Baptist, on Barry John's right hand

I bought, in the sort of closing down sale at HMV, Max Boyce's classic live albums. I've been meaning to do so for ages, but I'd not heard them before. And they're brilliant. Anyway, my favourite is below, which bizarrely, I cannot find written out anywhere on the Internet (I've not looked that hard). Perhaps fitting for the eve of tomorrow's Anglo-Welsh Six Nations decider.

The Devil's marking me

I had a dream the other night; the strangest dream of all
I dreamt I was in Heaven, away from life's hard call
It was as I imagined: where peace reigned all supreme
The signs to Heaven were in all in Welsh, the signs were painted green
(refrain)

I entered through the heavenly gate; I heard the heavenly band
And there was John the Baptist, on Barry John's right hand
He plays for the Heaven Welsh Fifteen. They're very fit and keen
We'd play the Heaven English, if they could only raise a team
(refrain)

There was rugby every morning on a field of golden corn
And the referee was Gabriel and he blew on a sliver horn
They tell me we play Hell next week, in the annual charity
I wouldn't mind, but I've been told, the Devil's marking me
(refrain)

But now my dream has faded and I wake up to the morn
I find beneath my pillow a sheaf of golden corn
So I know that when I go there, beyond death's victory
I'll take my rugby jersey on that gospel train with me
(refrain)