What’s wrong with supporting the Welsh Lions?

After the Lions thrashed the Barbarians in Hong Kong earlier, I tweeted to say how I was pleased the Welsh players had put on a decent showing.

Later, I noticed all sorts of tweets from people criticising those who had done what I’d done and single out those of one nationality for particular attention.

.@deanhdavid Well if taking pride in the contribution of Welsh players I admire makes me an arse I’m very happy to be one #lions&dragons

— Carolyn Hitt (@carolyn_hitt) June 1, 2013

They said we were all one now – all Lions or Lions supporters who should be united in our quest to vanquish Australia.

It was as if people like me would be happy when Owen Farrell or Jonathan Sexton missed kicks at goal, as if it proved the superiority of Wales. It was as if those of us who congratulated the Welsh contingent had wished Warren Gatland had selected 37 Welshmen for the tour, because with any other nations involved it makes us unable to give the team our wholehearted backing.

These tweeters said nationality should not be mentioned now, because of the fact four countries have come together as one.

Obviously it’s total rubbish. Of course Welsh people are going to look out for how Welsh players are doing, in the same way English fans would be more interested in how Farrell copes at outside half than whether Dan Lydiate can regain his form of 2012. Would Scottish fans not have been slightly more pleased if one of their own like Stuart Hogg had scored a try? Weren’t the Irish cheers for Paul O’Connell’s try a decibel or two louder than for his replacement Alun Wyn Jones?

Thanks for so many nice comments from fellow members of the newly-formed Lions #arseclub

— Carolyn Hitt (@carolyn_hitt) June 1, 2013

It’s the same principle as when club players represent their countries. If you’re a huge Leicester Tigers fan, aren’t you going to be more interested in the performance of the Youngs brothers than Richard Hibbard and Mike Phillips.

I resent being accused by others of not backing the Lions because of their very nature as a multiple-nation team. I’m not booing Sean Maitland, I’m not hoping Manu Tuilagi gets injured, but naturally I’m pleased for Welsh players I support all year round when they put on a decent showing.

And if you’re telling me these tweeters wouldn’t have made something of it had it been English players who’d crossed for seven tries, well, pull the other one.