CARDIFF, 20 March 2005 — Wales won their first grand slam for 27 years yesterday when they beat Ireland 32-20 in a Six Nations showdown overflowing with passion and commitment.
Wales had not beaten Ireland in Cardiff for 22 years and, despite a nervy start and tumultuous finale, deserved the win that brought their first championship since 1994 and ecstasy to thousands of Welsh fans packed into the Millennium Stadium.
Tries in each half for prop Gethin Jenkins and fullback Kevin Morgan set up the victory, which was sealed by the kicking of flyhalf Stephen Jones, who scored 16 points.
There was little of the fearless, free-flowing backline play that had characterized Wales’s march through the tournament but they were just as impressive for standing toe to toe with a vastly experienced Irish pack.
Wales’ ninth clean sweep is all the more remarkable as it comes just two years after they finished bottom of the table after losing every match.
A first home win over England for 13 years, a destruction of Italy in Rome, an extraordinary comeback victory over France in Paris and a record thrashing of Scotland in Edinburgh set up Wales for yesterday’s spectacular against an Ireland team who had won their five previous meetings. France’s 56-13 win over Italy earlier yesterday had kept them in the hunt and left Ireland needing a win by at least 15 points to take the title for the first time in 20 years.
