Shane Williams: Gareth says I can start growing my hair again now....
Wales 29-12 France
Wales Tries: S Williams M Williams Cons: S Jones (2) Pens: J Hook (2) S Jones (2)
France Pens: J-B Ellisalde (3) D Yachvillii
After 40 minutes of RBS 6 Nations you’d have got odds somewhere near 50/1 on Wales to win the championship, let alone the Grand Slam, but on an enchanted evening in Cardiff, they did just that and thoroughly deservedly so.
No one can argue that the best team didn’t win, for Wales have scored the most points (148) and shifted the least (66) with England and Italy the only sides to cross the Welsh whitewash.
Under the strict stewardship of defence coach, Shaun Edwards, Wales conceded only two tries throughout the whole tournament – two less than England’s record setting tally in 2002 and 2003 – and the bloodthirsty blitzing sea of red more than matched a frustrated French attack.
Warren Gatland needs a pat on the back for reinventing and reinvigorating the careers of a trio of Ospreys who were at the centre of the flawless campaign. Gavin Henson, Lee Byrne and Mike Phillips have been at the epicentre of the remarkable turnaround in fortunes showing more maturity and control than ever before.
At half-time a few Welsh nerves were jangling with France keeping in touch through Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde’s efficient boot, especially with Henson sitting it out for ten minutes for a high tackle on Fulgence Quedraogo, and it was always going to be a moment of magic that unlocked this edgy affair – enter Shane Williams.
The Welsh wing has undoubtedly been the star of the tournament and his sixth posted in the RBS 6 Nations this year took him one nudge past Gareth Thomas’ national record of 40 tries, but from his jubilant reaction, the record was far from his thoughts as he scampered clear of a scrambling defence after pouncing on his hack – the championship and a tenth Grand Slam, almost 100 years after their first, was within their grasp.
But the other Williams, Martyn, would not be outdone, even on his shorter namesakes record-breaking day. You could sense a special ending was building after Mark Jones nearly counter attacked his way from the Welsh twenty-two gliding past tiring defenders, and the red-haired flanker who unbelievably had to be called out of retirement by the shrewd Warren Gatland, glided through for a fairytale making score in the dying moments to send every Welsh man and his dog into magical and emotional applause.