Wales's Grand Slams through the ages

When video referee Iain Ramage uttered the word "inconclusive" just after 5.30pm on Saturday evening Wales's 20th Triple Crown was sealed and, crucially, the illusive Grand Slam title came one step closer.

England winger David Strettle’s score was disallowed, giving Sam Warburton the first piece of silverware of his short international captaincy. Thrilling wins over Ireland in Dublin, Scotland in Cardiff and the biggest scalp of all, the 19-12 triumph over England at Twickenham, have set Wales up for their third slam in eight years.

This would put them equal with France on three Grand Slams since the championships began in 2000. And, providing they can dispatch plucky underdogs Italy in two weeks time, it will be France they have to beat to claim this record when they meet at the Millennium Stadium in on March 17.

The Grand Slam is, of course, the Holy Grail of European rugby. As Grand Slam fever grips the capital, The Cardiffian takes a look back at some of the most memorable Welsh Grand Slam performances.

1893

For the first time, and nine tournaments after the Home Nations championship was first conceived in 1882, Wales picked up the Triple Crown, which, before France joined in 1910, was also a Grand Slam.

In an era which was a far cry from today’s relatively free-scoring spectacles, Wales opened the tournament with a narrow 12-11 win over England in Cardiff thanks to a late penalty from one of the superstars of the era, Billy Bancroft. Notably, exactly half of the total points scored in the championship came in the fixture, which England would have won 22-20 if present-day scoring methods had been used.

Wales completed the Slam with a 9-0 win in Edinburgh before dispatching Ireland 2-0 at Stradey Park in Llanelli. Ireland finished the tournament without scoring a point, though also boasted the tightest defence – conceding only six.

1976

Wales’s Grand Slam in 1976 got up and running with a fine 21-9 victory over the old enemy, England, at Twickenham, as JPR Williams and co battled past a spirited effort from their opponents. In their next battle, Wales took on Scotland at the National Stadium in Cardiff - their 28-6 victory is best remembered for the moment fly half Phil Bennett became, at the time, Wales’s highest ever test points scorer. Then, a stunning second half showing saw off Ireland at Lansdowne Road 34-9 to set up a decider against France at the National Stadium. In a tense contest, Wales were outscored by Les Bleus by two tries to one, but the kicking of Bennett, Steve Fenwick and Allan Martin won the day, and the Grand Slam, 19-13. This also proved to be Welsh captain Mervyn Davies’s last test as three weeks later the thirty-eight capped number eight collapsed with a brain haemorrhage during a WRU Challenge Cup semi-final between Swansea and Pontypool.

1978

The 1978 Five Nations saw the peak of a golden age for Welsh Rugby. Wales got off to a tense start for with a 9-6 victory over England in the opening Championship match, as neither side scored a try on a waterlogged pitch.

The second game saw Llanelli teammates Derek Quinnell and Ray Gravell score debut tries for Wales in a 22-14 win over Scotland, with Gareth Edwards bagging his 20th and final touchdown for his country.

A 20-16 victory over Ireland in Dublin gave Wales a third consecutive Triple Crown, the first country to achieve the feat. And so just as it had in the 1976 and 2005, the grand slams result hinged on beating France in the final game. In the event, Wales came back from 7-0 down to record a famous 16-7 victory.

Phil Bennett scored two crucial tries and Gareth Edwards added a clever dropped goal to seal the win.

The famous victory saw the end of a golden era at Cardiff Arms Park. Welsh heroes Edwards and Bennett both called it a day after the France game, and it would be another 27 years before Welsh fans had a grand slam to sing about.

2005

In many ways, the 2005 Triple Crown and Grand Slam came out of nothing for Wales, who had previously finished no higher than fourth in the Six Nations.

An opening day 11-9 success against England – only their second over their fiercest rivals since 1994 – came courtesy of a late, nerveless long-range penalty from Gavin Henson.

Away wins in Italy and France preceded a stunning display of free-flowing rugby as Mike Ruddock’s men ran in six tries (five in the first half) and 46 points at Murrayfield.

An emotionally charged atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium saw Wales record their first Grand Slam since 1978 by dispatching Ireland 32-20. Gethin Jenkins charged down Ronan O’Gara’s kick for a memorable try, as the hosts finally laid the ghosts of more than two decades of relative underperformance to rest.