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The Six Nations Championship kicked off on Saturday 5th February 2005. World Champions England were expected to delibver with the Irish fancied to win the Championship. But it was Wales who found the spark to set the Campionship alight winning their first Grand Slam for 27 years - but in what syle.
| Played | Won | Drawn | Points | |
| Wales | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 |
| France | 5 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
| Ireland | 5 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| England | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Scotland | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Italy | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Eddie Butler explains:
When Wales last won the grand slam, 27 long years ago, there was a
celebration. Of course. But at the end of the game, in the bowels of the
old, demolished National Stadium, far from the mad crowd, Phil Bennett
sat down alongside Gareth Edwards, a famous outside-half next to his even
more famous scrum-half. Bennett had just scored two tries in the 17-6 victory
over France. He was the hero of the hour. They were both heroes of the
age. 'That's it, Gar,' said Bennett. 'I'm done. I'm retiring.'
'Why didn't you say?' asked Edwards. 'So am I.'
And that was it. On 18 March 1978 a great team began to break up. They had a party and on Monday all went back to work.
Jump to 19 March 2005, the day Wales won the grand slam again by beating Ireland 32-20. Gavin Henson, who dropped a goal and kicked a penalty from his own half, wore silver boots. He probably won't party very hard, but might have a tender moment with his girlfriend, Charlotte Church. At some stage in the near future he will have a word with his agent and do some rough figures to work out how much all this is worth.
To be fair to the modern Wales players, this is just to show how much times have changed. Recently I spoke to a woman of a certain age who had just taken her grandson to watch Wales train at their headquarters at the Vale of Glamorgan Leisure Complex. The little boy was messing around with a football, when a group of the latest grand slam team players arrived and joined in his game. 'What a delightful group of young men they were,' said the grandmother.
They are the product of their dry, but not unfunny, former coach from New Zealand, Steve Hansen. He put them on course for all this with an insistence on fitness and structure.
But Wales owe more to their new coach, Mike Ruddock. He has insisted not only on fitness and structure, but also on something closer to home. By promoting effusiveness, he has galvanised their 'Welshness', they are saying, and not just among the grandmothers of the land. They are good blokes who can play sublime rugby. And in Wales, that places them at the gates of the promised land.
The players were cheered on their way in style yesterday. Cardiff was awash in carnival spirit from daybreak. Everybody had to be present in order to be able to say to grandchildren to come: 'I was there.'
In spring sunshine hot enough to wilt a crocus, those without tickets poured towards the big screen erected outside City Hall. Hen(son)-mania soared as crates of ale strained backs that haven't seen heavy labour since, well, 1978. This is new Wales, very different from the old, but still able to throw one hell of a party.
And as the gloriously crisp day turned into a gloriously slurred night, the sound of the party and wild dreams only grew. The Wales team of 2005 may not be as good as the team of '78, who on such a day 27 years ago began to make their exits. But they are young enough to make this but a beginning. Nobody has declared time on the party yet.
How the Grand Slam was won
Wales' 32-20 victory on the last day of the 2005 Six Nations sealed
the end of a magnificent tournament.
After so many years of hurt, underachievement, heartache and pain all
of Wales' dreams came true when they won the Grand Slam, Triple Crown and
the Six Nations championship.
WALES 11 ENGLAND 9
It all started on 5 February at the Millennium Stadium. A game against
the old enemy. Wales were looking for their first win over England on home
soil for 12 years.One man light the blue touch paper and started Wales
Grand Slam dream - that man was Gavin Henson.The shaven legged, sun bed-tanned,
gelled-hair wonder boy struck a wonderful 45-metre penalty to complete
a well deserved victory.
Match Stats:
Wales:
Tries: S Williams.
Pens: S Jones, Henson
England:
Pens: Hodgson (3)
ITALY 8 WALES 38
One down, but a long way to go and a tricky tip to the Italian capital
Rome. The golden boy lost his touch as Italian fly-half Luciano Orquera
charged down an attempted Henson clearance. But Wales were just too good
for the Azzurri and could only watch as the men in red cut them apart with
some fantastic rugby. Shane Williams was at his dancing best, teasing the
Italian defence with run after run. Six Tries were score and the second
win registered - Wales had started to make themselves know.
Match Stats:
Italy:
Try: Orquera
Pens: De Marigny
Wales:
Tries: J Thomas, Shanklin, M Williams, S Williams, Cockbain, Sidoli
Cons: S Jones (4)
FRANCE 18 WALES 24
With confidence flowing it was another chance to spend the Euros as
Wales travelled to Paris.Mike Ruddock's men looked down and out after the
first half in the Stade de France as the home side produced the sort of
running rugby that the French public so crave.15-6 down and on the ropes
- time for the heroics to begin. The men in red stunned the men in blue
with two quick fire tries from Martyn Williams.
Wales were on the comeback and had no intentions of losing. A backs-to-the-wall
win was influenced by the man France has paid to bring to their shores
- Stephen Jones. The other French import Gareth Thomas through a broken
thumb and would not feature in any further games. Win number three and
talk of a Grand Slam began.
Match Stats:
Tries: Yachvili, Rougerie
Drop Goal: Michalak
Pens: Yachvili
Cons: Yachvili
Wales:
Tries: M Williams (2)
Drop Goal: S Jones
Pens: S Jones (3)
Cons: S Jones
SCOTLAND 22 WALES 46
Wales had lit the tournament up with some wonderful running rugby,
but the best was yet to come as they easily beat Scotland in a devastating
first half of rugby at Murrayfield. Before Scotland knew it they were 38-3
down as Wales ran riot scoring three tries in the opening 15 minutes. The
game was dead and despite a brave comeback, Wales were already turning
their attentions to the next game - Ireland at home.
Match Stats
Scotland:
Tries: Craig, R Lamont, Paterson
Pens: Paterson
Cons: Paterson (2)
Wales:
Tries: Morgan (2), R Williams (2), S Williams, R Jones
Pens: S Jones (2)
Cons: S Jones (5)
WALES 32 IRELAND 20
And so it came to a Grand Slam match against Ireland, but not a Grand
Slam decider. Ireland's defeat to France meant Wales were the only side
who could still win the Grand Slam. Something which they hadn't achieved
since 1978.The scene was set, the Millennium Stadium packed and the weight
of a nation hung on the shoulders of the Welsh Rugby team. Wales had not
beaten Ireland in Cardiff since 1983. March 19, 2005 was a date which saw
all the old memories fade into insignificance. First came a Gethin Jenkins
charge down score then another wonder-try as the Welsh backs once again
showed off their pace, style and brilliance. Ireland attempted to get back
into it, but the boots of Henson and Stephen Jones meant the men in green
were never going to spoil the party. Wales had beaten all that was put
in front of them. Five games, five wins. Wales had won the Grand Slam.
Match Stats:
Wales:
Tries: Jenkins, Morgan
Pens: Henson, S Jones (4)
Cons: S. Jones 2
Drop Goals: Henson
Ireland
Tries: Horan, Murphy
Pens: O'Gara 2
Cons: Humphreys 2
Six Nations 2005 Results
Saturday 5th February 2005
France 16-9 Scotland
Wales 11-9 England
Sunday 6th February 2005
Italy 17-28 Ireland
Saturday 12th February 2005
Italy 8-38 Wales
Scotland 13-40 Ireland
Sunday 13th February 2005
England 17-18 France
Saturday 26th February 2005
Scotland 18-10 Italy
France 18-24 Wales
Sunday 27th February 2005
Ireland 19-13 England
Saturday 12th March 2005
Ireland 19-26 France
England 39-7 Italy
Sunday 13th March 2005
Scotland 22-46 Wales
Saturday 19th March 2005
Italy 13-56 France
Wales 32-20 Ireland
England 43-22
Six Nations Links
http://www.6nations.net/
http://www.sixnationsrugby.com/
http://www.6nations.co.uk/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/default.stm
Six Nations 2006 Fixtures
4/5 February 2006
Saturday - Ireland v Italy 1.30pm
Saturday - England v Wales 3.30pm
Sunday - Scotland v France 3.00pm
11/12 February 2006
Saturday - France v Ireland 1.30pm
Saturday - Italy v England 4.00 pm
Sunday - Wales v Scotland 3.00pm
25/26 February 2006
Saturday - France v Italy 2.00pm
Saturday - Scotland v England 5.30pm
Sunday - Ireland v Wales 3.00pm
11/12 March 2006
Saturday - Wales v Italy 1.30pm
Saturday - Ireland v Scotland 3.30pm
Sunday - France v England 3.00pm
18/19 March 2006
Saturday - Italy v Scotland 1.30pm
Saturday - Wales v France 3.30pm
Saturday - England v Ireland 5.30pm