It seems like a lot of teams have an old enemy – and it’s nearly always England. (The exceptions are New Zealand and South Africa, who refer to each other as the old enemy, and the Argentinians in spite of having been at war with England less than 30 years ago).

I don’t know why there was so much fuss about O’Neill’s words. When it comes to sport, it’s well known that everyone hates the English. You can buy T-shirts in Wales and probably elsewhere that bear the legend, “I support Wales and whoever is playing England.” It’s not a question of “Does everyone hate the English’ as much as “Why does everyone hate the English?”

Why does one side inspire such fervent animosity? Why do French-loathing Welshmen cheer on Les Bleus when they play England? I’m Welsh so I’m looking particularly at my nation’s reaction but I know it’s similar in other countries.

I might be Welsh but I’m married to an Englishman. He has no problem supporting Wales – except when they play England – whereas I have to batten down my emotions if I am to shout, “Come on, En … Engl … Eng-land!” I choke even writing the words.

The England team are sometimes accused of arrogance, a quality that is guaranteed to rile others. But there is a big difference between confidence and arrogance and, with a few obvious exceptions, the current team seem confident but unassuming. The team of the Will Carling era were far more condescending in their attitude, although the World Cup winners also had their moments –although, strangely enough, they came before the winning.

Football is the main sport played in schools in England. There, rugby union has always been the preserve of the elite, played mainly by public and grammar school boys, who by the very nature of their upbringing have an assurance that can spill over into arrogance.

But is that all it is? A few cocky men upsetting people? Is that enough to explain the worldwide and general hatred of the old enemy? In a sport that has its fair share of loud-mouthed know-it-alls? I don’t think so. And, anyway, my own antipathy goes far deeper than could be explained by any perceived sleights or derogatory words. It’s part of me. It could almost be genetic.

So maybe we need to look elsewhere, a bit further back in history.

In 1282 Wales was annexed by England, in effect it became a colony of its neighbour. It wasn’t until 700 years later, with the setting up of the National Assembly, that Wales finally got some degree of control over its own affairs. But still primary legislation continues to be the job of parliament – in England.

More recently, in the last century Churchill took the unprecedented step of sending troops into a small Welsh village to subdue a miners’ strike; in 1984 Margaret Thatcher oversaw the death of the Welsh mining industry. Is there any wonder that the Welsh want to see the English get beaten?

And it’s the same for Scotland, Ireland, France – all have fought and lost wars against the old enemy. Australia might have gained its independence in 1931 but the Queen of England is still its Head of State.

Really the only surprising thing is that we don’t hate the English more. So I’ll leave the last words to Welsh band, The Stereophonics: “As long as we beat the English, we don't care.”