The film was first shown on 17 March 1978, with filming taking place a year earlier. The dialogue in the film was heavily ad-libbed by the cast around a rough outline by the writer and director. The ending was originally planned with Wales winning. When they lost the game the ending was hastily revised, with additional dialogue pick-up shots in the stands of the Cardiff Arms Park. The filming took place in the following order: The village streets (hearse); Training Plane (Rhoose Airport); Paris exteriors; All Paris interiors (BBC Club, Newport Road, Cardiff) The original 1977 members of the Welsh and French RFC teams can be seen in this film on the field and off, including Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett and others.