IT WAS the game that gave a country back its pride.

After back-to-back losses for Wales' rugby and football teams, Saturday's opening Six Nations game against Scotland was a crucial match.

And the Land of Song stormed to a 23-10 victory, after a little encouragement from the Millennium Stadium crowd - and a Gwent choir.

Mynyddislwyn Choir joined bands from the Royal Regiment of Wales, That's Brass and the Territorial Army, Llanelli Male Voice Choir and Aled Jones to lead the nation in song on Saturday.

Thirty-seven of the 47-strong choir attended along with concert secretary Graham Sanders, 61.

He said: "It began when we were still outside, in the Westgate. We were asked to sing Delilah and all the fans joined in.

"The experience of going onto the pitch was like nothing I've ever had before. The funny part is that we weren't at all scared or nervous.

"I was with the people I know and we'd practiced for a week and that helped. I don't think I could have done it with a smaller group.

"As we worked our way round, singing in front of the different sides of the stadium, the crowd started to build up - so it happened gradually.

"The biggest crowd we've ever done before Saturday was at St David's Hall, where there were a couple of thousand, so that was just unbelievable."

The choir sang Love Divine, Calon Lan, We'll Keep a Welcome, Sosban Fach, and Cwm Rhondda - among other Welsh favourites.

Mr Sanders added: "We sang Men of Harlech in front of the Scottish fans to intimidate them and the players as they came out - but we sang Flower of Scotland as well.

"The conductor kept us going because it's hard to pick up the beat of the band through the noise of 72,000 people trying to sing along as well.

"Our only problem was that when we came off the pitch someone had pinched our seats, but we were just redirected to other ones.

"It was a big comeback for the team and and let's hope it carries on from there.

"After the game there were plans for some of the lads to go for a drink but not all of us made it - it had been a long day, and some of us are 70 or 80 years old.

"I'd definitely do it again. It was an experience that will take some beating."