WE love a gallant loser in this country.

So all praise to Wales and Scotland. They did their nations proud in the Rugby World Cup.

Ireland got blown away by an inspired Argentina. England were just rubbish.

But Wales and Scotland. Wow. Brave, committed, passionate, so unlucky.

And losers.

Because that's what they were in this tournament. Losers. Just like England. Just like France.

But we mask that by throwing a cloak of pride over the results. Why? Because we love a gallant loser in this country.

The Australians don't. The South Africans don't. The New Zealanders don't.

They detest losing. They hate it with a passion. And that's why they don't lose very often.

We seem to have a different mindset in this country.

We don't like losing; of course we don't. But we cope with it if our team has put up a fight; if they've put on a show. If they've lost in the 'right way'.

And we don't really like sports teams that win with metronomic regularity. We don't like teams that are boring but successful.

We also love a good excuse for our teams losing.

So when South Africa edged past Wales on Saturday, social media was full of Welsh fans criticising referee Wayne Barnes. I even saw one thread on Twitter in which it was claimed World Cup organisers had got it wrong in appointing Barnes because he is English and therefore biased against Wales.

In the aftermath of Scotland's last-gasp defeat to Australia, all the talk was of the referee Craig Joubert handing the Aussies the game with a wrong decision in the dying moments.

While I thought Barnes' performance was relatively sound, Joubert of course made a mistake in awarding Australia what turned out to be the match-winning penalty.

But Wales and Scotland did not bow out of the World Cup through bad luck. They lost through a lack of nous, an inability to manage the game effectively.

I can guarantee that if Australia had been in Scotland's position - two points in the lead with just a few minutes to play - they would have won the match. Why? Because they know how to protect a winning position.

It is not coincidence that there are no northern hemisphere teams in the last four of the Rugby World Cup.

It is because nations like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are winners, and not just on the rugby field.

Sports is a serious business in these countries. It benefits from substantial public subsidies and those identified as talented at an early age are nurtured and taught to be professional. They are taught to be winners.

We simply do not dislike losing enough in this country. And we are too fond of relying on excuses when we do.

With the exception of England in 2003, the Rugby World Cup has only ever been won by southern hemisphere teams.

There is no reason why this should continue.

Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland and France do not not lack talent. But they do lack mental toughness.

And a way to change that has to be found if we are not to be content with glorious failure.