HOW much longer are the West Wales-biased BBC going to bombard the public with Llanelli’s victory over the All Blacks in 1972 as though it was something utterly fantastic?

Creditable it was, of course, and a highlight in their history. But down the years it has been repeated and repeated, and it was inevitably dragged up again on Friday when BBC Wales radio and television units spent the whole day down at Stradey Park on the occasion of the final match at the ground before the Scarlets, as they are called now, move to a new out-of-town stadium.

But Llanelli’s victory pales into insignificance compared with what Newport achieved nine years earlier.

For 45 years ago this week Newport celebrated their finest hour when they beat the All Blacks at a jam packed Rodney Parade – but the scale of that achievement was far greater than Llanelli’s.

Just look at the facts. On the 1972/3 tour the All Blacks lost to North West Counties 16-14 and they lost against Midland Counties 16-8, hardly major front line opponents. They were also beaten 13-6 by France and they were well and truly eclipsed 23-11 by the Barbarians in that unforgettable match while also drawing 10-10 with Ireland.

So Llanelli’s victory over them as well was just one of a number and not that much to write home about in all honesty.

Now compare that with the tour by their 1963/4 predecessors. They were full of some of the great names of New Zealand rugby, led by Wilson Whineray and including Don Clarke, Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Waka Nathan and Kelvin Tremain, to name a few.

They were on tour for four months and they played 30 matches. They won 28, they beat Ireland, Wales and England, they drew with Scotland and they lost just once – against Newport.

No defeats by north west this or south west that, they fell just once – against Newport. And it was no second team, for Clarke, Whineray, Meads, Tremain, Lochore and Nathan (was there ever a better back row?) all played.

It was unfortunately in the days of black and white film and little of it was shown on television, but it is there in the archives. Instead of all this Llanelli, Llanelli down the years the BBC ought to give just a little more recognition of what was a far greater achievement.