Apologies for being a spoilsport, but it seems to be escaping quite a few people's attention that Wales lost a rugby match last Saturday.

Yes, it was only by a point and yes, it was a magnificent rugby match - possibly one of the best ever in terms of a breathless spectacle - and one with an accompanying atmosphere which probably couldn't be matched anywhere in the world. But they lost.

You see, I'm not big on heroic defeats in professional sport. They used to be OK when the game was amateur because it would have seemed harsh to overly criticise chaps who had worked all week, fitted in a few training sessions along the way and then spilt blood and sweat for their country on the weekend. That was then. This is now and the Welsh players know what the story is.

They know they missed a glorious opportunity to overturn New Zealand for the first time in 51 years. Yes, you feel sympathy for them because they gave their all and played some thrilling rugby at times, but they probably also know that the All Blacks were not that great a team, certainly not at full strength, as has been confirmed by the seven changes made for the match against France this weekend.

I shall be very surprised if Piri Weepu wins too many more caps as an international scrum half. He was strong and physical, but oh, his passing! It came straight from the Rupert Moon school of laboured delivery. Moon had many qualities as a rugby player, not least an indomitable spirit, but one of them was not a slick service.

Wales have not won in 23 encounters against any of the world's top six- New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, France and Ireland- stretching back to 2001 when they beat France. That is too long. We can eulogise all we want about those near misses but it is time to stop that rot.

We have known for a year since the World Cup that Wales are a good side who can be a force again with the big boys, but until that first victory comes can we truly say they are back? I don't think so. But having said that I will be surprised if it does not come soon. And I hope it does.

However, I'm afraid there might be some more bad news - a couple of weeks ago in these pages I urged those of a betting persuasion to put a few bob on Wales to beat England in February. I'm not so sure about that now. You might be better off keeping your money in your pocket. I thought England were in a steep decline which would take a while to reverse, but I watched them against South Africa last weekend and they were awesome. If the Boks had lost by 50 points they could not have complained. The English pack blew them away with their physicality. Wales might have a few problems winning some ball if England continue to play like that.

I feel obliged to mention the Zimbabwe situation even though the whole issue is beginning to bore me rigid. It has dragged on and on, and then just days before the damned series is about to begin, we have further controversy. Indeed, by the time you read this, who knows, the whole tour might be off. What a blessed relief that would be. I know that would please a few of the England cricketers, including the skipper Michael Vaughan, who has made it clear he is not particularly happy and just wants to get it over with as quickly as possible.

I sensed Vaughan saw the ridiculous banning of some journalists as a last minute 'Get out of jail free' card. Poor old David Morgan has again had to take the flak- how he must still be regretting taking that job!- knowing his hands are tied because unless there is official word from a higher authority - i.e. the British government or the ICC - he can't pull England out of the tour for fear of serious financial implications.

What has amused me most, though, is how some journalists have been granted accreditation and some have not. I am left wondering what would have happened if I had applied to cover this tour.

I work for the Sunday Telegraph, who are barred and for the Guardian, who are allowed in. So I presume I would be allowed in during the week and then told to leave on as Saturday when I would be filing for the Sunday Telegraph! Now of course if I had applied just to work for the South Wales Argus I'm sure there would not have been a problem!