A rip-roaring Six Nations would be a fitting tribute to Eddie Butler | Robert Kitson

The Six Nations will footwear disconnected successful Cardiff this play but successful our hearts it is already nether way. As we gathered successful Abergavenny to observe nan full-to-overflowing life of Eddie Butler nan only missing constituent was a crippled to thief soothe our swirling emotions arsenic we sang Cwm Rhondda and remembered a “modern renaissance man” arsenic Clare Balding perfectly described him.

At slightest nan tone of Eddie lives on. Because each and each clip we perceive nan anthems aliases spot an aerial stadium changeable successful nan coming weeks, we will perceive that sound and beryllium reminded of nan sport-as-art montages successful which he specialised. If this year’s Six Nations soundtrack will sound somewhat different, nan bard of Monmouthshire’s backmost catalogue will guidelines nan trial of time.

For anyone heading to nan Principality Stadium for this year’s opening fixture against Ireland, for example, spell online and find Eddie’s superb explanation – is lyrical Welsh rugby rap a genre? – of his location federation connected large world days:

Match nighttime nether nan skies of Wales
Fuelled by nan pies and fries of Wales
By ale and nan why, why, whys of Wales …

Watch it each nan measurement done and past effort to reason nan Six Nations is conscionable different tournament. Like Bill McLaren earlier him, 1 of Eddie’s awesome gifts was his expertise to make america understand that nan Six Nations is astir acold much than numbers connected a scoreboard. The beingness of truthful many, from Sir Gareth Edwards and Jonathan Davies to his tearful aged Pontypool teammates, successful Abergavenny’s Market Hall underlined that soulful truth.

Looking backmost astatine immoderate of Eddie’s Observer and Guardian musings this week was likewise uplifting. When Wales won their expansive slam successful 2005 they did truthful “in outpouring sunshine basking capable to wilt a crocus”. Then location was his intro to a 2001 column astir nan unpredictability of nan Six Nations. “As soon arsenic you put words for illustration ‘mouth-watering’ earlier nan Six Nations, you cognize it will each barren up. I deliberation I astir put ‘sacred’ earlier it once. May nan Lord sphere maine from ever trying to nexus Him pinch nan spectacularly profane world of rugby. Jesus.”

Or what astir these wise words astir nan captious value of scrummaging astatine nan apical level. “A retreating scrum leaves its inhabitants connected legs of jelly. And a jelly-legged loose-head is conscionable what a France midfield is looking for.” Or this gloom-tinged summation aft Wales had been swallowed up by nan Irish, successful defiance of predictions nan title would spell down to nan wire. “It didn’t. The Welsh pliers ne'er moreover trim done nan integrative coating.”

Ireland’s breathtaking Caelan Doris is nan type of subordinate Eddie Butler appreciated. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile/Getty Images

Good aged Edwardo. Mind you, moreover he mightiness person struggled to extract overmuch poesy from nan reputational bin occurrence that is world rugby national conscionable now. If location was a convention array for under-pressure nationalist unions, it is adjacent to opportunity nan conflict for nan woody spoon would beryllium earnestly intense. Allegations of sexism and misogyny successful Wales and now Scottish nine rugby, corruption successful France, incompetence successful England … nan database is agelong and depressing.

Which is why, arsenic a tribute to Eddie, we request this Six Nations to beryllium an absolute banger. Rugby lovers of each nationality request caller reasons to support nan faith. It does not each person to beryllium soaring passion aliases dreamy sonnets but this is excessively pivotal a infinitesimal successful nan game’s history for nan rugby to beryllium soul-sapping and dull, either arsenic a spectacle aliases successful position of tactical nous.

Eddie, sadly, is nary longer astir to pronounce connected nan likeliest victor but he would decidedly person relished nan thought of a resurgent Wales and a fewer greenish shoots of betterment nether Warren G. Or England yet shaking disconnected nan intelligence shackles imposed by their antipodean Lord Voldemort and replacing nan groaning successful nan shires pinch thing acold much enthusiastic.

Then again, he perfectly loved pronouncing those French surnames and would person salivated astatine nan thought of Les Bleus becoming some accordant and captivating astatine nan aforesaid time. And, goodness, really he would person embraced nan Rugby World Cup successful France later this year. The roadworthy trips, nan stadiums, nan brasseries and, perhaps, nan voiceovers successful astatine slightest 2 aliases 3 different languages.

Along pinch nan remainder of us, though, he would besides beryllium looking admiringly astatine Ireland’s loose forwards – really bully is Caelan Doris? – and purring his continued appreciation. Even France will person to raise their crippled successful Dublin wherever they person won conscionable erstwhile since 2011. Ireland besides still person Johnny Sexton while Garry Ringrose has been superb for Leinster lately. Assuming they triumph capable shot – and Sexton stays fresh – their intelligence toughness is 2nd to none.

But clasp on. Even nan improving Italy could nick a triumph aliases two. After Scotland play astatine Twickenham, 3 of their remaining 4 games will beryllium astatine Murrayfield. England and Wales should some bask immoderate grade of “new coach bounce”, though really agelong it lasts will beryllium fascinating. Hopefully it will each make for thing arsenic memorable arsenic yesterday successful Abergavenny, wherever everyone near pinch hearts replenished and souls enriched. The sound of rugby whitethorn person departed but nan crippled he loved is still present to prolong us.