:00:15. > :00:20.In Cardiff, Wales beat France in the Six Nations Championships to
:00:20. > :00:26.win the Grand Slams. It is the third time they have won the trophy
:00:26. > :00:31.in eight seasons. The Grand Slam goes to Wales. And she can hear
:00:31. > :00:34.just what it bins for these fans. A third Grand Slam in eight seasons.
:00:34. > :00:41.History will surely remember this team as one of the greats of wash
:00:41. > :00:46.sport. They have matched the achievement of the 1970s when they
:00:46. > :00:56.got three Grand Slams in a decade. It has been a day of huge passion
:00:56. > :01:06.
:01:06. > :01:10.You do not think it is going to happen to you. When you watch the
:01:10. > :01:13.television and lift up the trophy on the home page and see somebody -
:01:13. > :01:17.- everybody still in the stadium. Everybody behind you screaming
:01:17. > :01:23.their heads off. One of the best feelings they have had in my life.
:01:23. > :01:31.It was fantastic. Still in the after a glow of five victories, the
:01:31. > :01:36.battered one on captain was still a major architect of the Grand Slam.
:01:36. > :01:40.The player whose entire rugby life has been leading him here. I came
:01:40. > :01:43.here when I was under 14 and I played for my high school in the
:01:43. > :01:48.Welsh Cup final. Ever since then, it has been one of my favourite
:01:48. > :01:53.places. You always dreamt of what it would be like in front of a full
:01:53. > :01:59.house. The dream really is the Six Nations. That is the biggest event
:01:59. > :02:05.in Welsh rugby. The is a romance to all this winning. But but deeper
:02:05. > :02:12.than the prices, there is pain. We all have the dream. This is the
:02:12. > :02:16.reality for the firm. We all want to the glow. They alone have felt
:02:17. > :02:21.that the freeze. The trips to Poland and the new word in the
:02:21. > :02:26.language of rugby. Cryotherapy. Since the journey started back in
:02:26. > :02:32.June, every ridiculous recession they have done, when I have been
:02:32. > :02:35.thrown up and all the sacrifices you have been. The Poland trips,
:02:35. > :02:40.the hard-working New Zealand, the sacrifices you have made to be in
:02:40. > :02:50.the squad because it was a really tough selection process. Just make
:02:50. > :03:00.sure you do not let any of that go Good afternoon and welcome to all
:03:00. > :03:02.
:03:02. > :03:07.Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Ireland, the home nation. The winner for you
:03:07. > :03:10.is? Island. It I land are favourites. I think Ireland will
:03:10. > :03:15.win today. Worse have won the last two
:03:15. > :03:24.meetings. Uncontroversially, won unexpectedly, according to the
:03:24. > :03:27.Irish. They felt their rugby was better than Wales's regional rugby.
:03:28. > :03:31.The 2012 Six Nations gets underway for Wales.
:03:31. > :03:37.Would Six Nations rugby is still favour the attacking side? The ball
:03:37. > :03:42.carrier could still dance out of trouble. Better defences work more
:03:42. > :03:49.ferocious than ever. Was there to be no escape from the reality of
:03:49. > :03:53.the new wage? Contact was Caden. And only through contact could
:03:53. > :04:03.there be points. -- contract was king.
:04:03. > :04:06.
:04:06. > :04:10.There was a way. The race Brisland way. -- the Reece Priestland way.
:04:10. > :04:17.That was a blind by the outside half. There was a problem. The
:04:17. > :04:27.parcel was having an off day as a kicker. -- the passer. Ireland was
:04:27. > :04:30.
:04:30. > :04:38.suddenly taking to the open game. Tommy Bowe. A try for Ireland. They
:04:38. > :04:42.are undefeated. Half-time. Blair has had a little rethink. Leigh
:04:42. > :04:47.Halfpenny now the kicker. Justin Tipuric on for the injured Sam
:04:47. > :04:57.Warburton. Justin Tipuric at the line-out. And from there to new-age
:04:57. > :04:59.
:04:59. > :05:09.perfection. George North. Into contact. Out-of-contract.
:05:09. > :05:19.-- out of contact. George North. Jonathan Davies.
:05:19. > :05:19.
:05:19. > :05:29.was, and then it was not. The Bradley Davies moment. I am sorry,
:05:29. > :05:33.
:05:33. > :05:43.that is read. I cannot see. down to 14, they paid the price.
:05:43. > :05:52.Tommy Bowe. Tommy Bowe win the corner. What a response from
:05:52. > :06:01.Ireland. The a heavy price, or was it? Rhys Priestland. George North.
:06:01. > :06:03.Big man, strong man, George North. It set up the first of an
:06:03. > :06:09.agonisingly tight finishes. Stressful even for those who had
:06:09. > :06:17.been here before. The game had yet to be one. Who would make the one
:06:17. > :06:22.costly mistake? Stephen Ferris. And giving Leigh Halfpenny a chance to
:06:22. > :06:30.put words into the lead. And everyone in Ireland's Fein to
:06:30. > :06:40.respect for the kicker. The crowd do not believe it is a
:06:40. > :06:46.
:06:46. > :06:50.penalty. Leigh Halfpenny. Advantage Wales. Game Wales.
:06:50. > :06:59.match that has been dramatic from start to finish. Dramatic,
:06:59. > :07:03.controversial, exciting. It has been a belter.
:07:03. > :07:09.And very special for the first- choice kicker. I was so chuffed for
:07:09. > :07:14.the -- Leigh Halfpenny. I have known him since I was 15. He blames
:07:14. > :07:18.himself for the smallest things. I feel really sorry for him. The
:07:18. > :07:23.French semi-final was devastating when he missed that kick. I think
:07:23. > :07:27.that kick in the last minute would have put it to bed for him. He
:07:27. > :07:32.practises so hard. He is one of the best professionals I know. He
:07:32. > :07:36.really deserved that moment when we got the penalty. The man of the
:07:36. > :07:46.match was George North. The teenage winger on his way to becoming the
:07:46. > :07:54.
:07:54. > :08:00.youngest player to win 20 caps. The He can do things other players
:08:00. > :08:04.cannot do. Crack is because he is genetically very different with his
:08:04. > :08:08.physical capabilities. He is only 19. It seems ridiculous. He is
:08:08. > :08:14.physically probably the most impressive guy in the squad and
:08:14. > :08:18.still a teenager. One week later, round two against Scotland and the
:08:18. > :08:27.first game of the championship at the Millennium Stadium. Wares at
:08:27. > :08:32.home. -- wears at home. Brian the Organ at home to watch
:08:32. > :08:38.the match. Filmed by his son and about to become an intermit it of
:08:38. > :08:42.the Six Nations. -- internet hit. The starting line was intact
:08:42. > :08:48.against the side that could not score. The Welsh pack had to be
:08:48. > :08:58.changed. The captain failing a late fitness test. A big blow losing Sam
:08:58. > :08:59.
:08:59. > :09:09.Warburton. Yes. Hear such an influential player. -- he is such
:09:09. > :09:11.
:09:11. > :09:21.an influential player. For I must It looks like they have come to
:09:21. > :09:34.
:09:34. > :09:38.play the Welsh. Leigh Halfpenny Alex Cuthbert. Nothing was
:09:38. > :09:42.happening to break the deadlock. Nothing good, that is. It does not
:09:42. > :09:48.look good for George North. He has not come up on to his feet yet.
:09:48. > :09:56.Goodbye, George North. Scotland calling for more numbers on the far
:09:56. > :10:06.side. Hello, Alex Cuthbert. I Alex Cuthbert is there. And Alex
:10:06. > :10:07.
:10:07. > :10:15.Cuthbert gets his first The deadlock was broken. Wales in
:10:15. > :10:23.charge, Scotland in trouble. They just needed a little flourish to
:10:23. > :10:33.finish things off. Alex cuts but once again. Alex Cuthbert to Leigh
:10:33. > :10:34.
:10:34. > :10:39.Halfpenny. That is very well done. Everything she came in pairs.
:10:39. > :10:42.men off, they have got to go for the kill. The second a backhand
:10:42. > :10:48.pass out of the tackle for the try. But Mike Phillips to Leigh
:10:48. > :10:54.Halfpenny for the fullback's brace of tries. He will be pulling his
:10:54. > :11:00.hair out. It did not in the action was over. This was the season of
:11:00. > :11:06.drama to the last. Scotland's new fullback, Stuart hock. Stuart Hogg
:11:06. > :11:12.is denied. Does he not good on? the first time we would be peering
:11:12. > :11:21.at replays in the corner. Still, one more foot note. Does he have it
:11:21. > :11:31.this time? The last try Wales would concede in the championship. And it
:11:31. > :11:31.
:11:31. > :12:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 80 seconds
:12:51. > :13:01.Come on. Five minutes. That will be Have the ball goes dead. It also
:13:01. > :13:04.
:13:04. > :13:10.went up into the air a lot, It also went up into the air a lot.
:13:10. > :13:20.And the rule of the vote. This was tackling made into an art form. But
:13:20. > :13:22.
:13:22. > :13:28.would do nothing give? Change of kick. That was a thumping tackle.
:13:28. > :13:37.George North and Owen Farrell, combined age, 39. The points,
:13:37. > :13:47.equally meagre. At the end of the first half, it is an enthralling
:13:47. > :13:47.
:13:47. > :13:57.contest. England 9, Wales six. and some into the second half.
:13:57. > :14:02.
:14:02. > :14:06.Scott Williams gets back. Purities. Leigh Halfpenny goes down. He is
:14:06. > :14:11.going on it from Steve Walsh. Rhys Priestland. 10 minutes in the sin
:14:11. > :14:21.bin. Three points on the board. Trouble for Wales. Happiness for
:14:21. > :14:23.
:14:23. > :14:30.England. That was offside. Wales have the penalty. The -- this is
:14:30. > :14:40.working well for Wales. Wares are full of momentum now. Chris Priest
:14:40. > :14:43.
:14:43. > :14:53.land. -- Rhys Priestland. One chance last, another soon given.
:14:53. > :14:55.
:14:55. > :15:02.There are eight minutes to go. He has been struck by Scott Williams.
:15:02. > :15:12.He has got it. Scott Williams scores. And into orbit when those
:15:12. > :15:18.
:15:18. > :15:28.in red, from London to Cardiff and Yes. Yes, yes, yes. But wait. We
:15:28. > :15:30.
:15:30. > :15:40.are into overtime. Here we go. It looks as if he made it. They will
:15:40. > :15:41.
:15:41. > :15:51.go upstairs. Did he play said? Not from that angle. Is that down?
:15:51. > :15:56.
:15:56. > :16:02.is almost impossible to tell. have got a decision. No try.
:16:02. > :16:08.game is over. The try has not been awarded to England. Wales have won
:16:08. > :16:18.at Twickenham. They completed the treble ground. Three wins out of
:16:18. > :16:21.
:16:21. > :16:25.Perhaps the outcome was also decided by how Wales managed their
:16:25. > :16:35.ten minutes without Rhys Priestland. A masterclass in the protection of
:16:35. > :16:45.
:16:45. > :16:53.possession. Perhaps it was also a master class in tackling. You can't
:16:53. > :17:03.really coach that stuff. The hunger of the players to win, everybody
:17:03. > :17:06.
:17:06. > :17:14.working so hard for each other. There could be a lapse in
:17:15. > :17:19.concentration. Leigh Halfpenny just threw himself into that tackle. In
:17:19. > :17:29.hindsight, that could have been a Grand Slam. The knife-edge on which
:17:29. > :17:41.
:17:41. > :17:51.The tension of Twickenham slackened for the visitors of Italy. Not even
:17:51. > :17:52.
:17:52. > :18:02.Sergio could upset Wales in Cardiff, could he? Italy were tough old nuts,
:18:02. > :18:08.
:18:08. > :18:18.but at some stage, they would give, Patients was the order of the day
:18:18. > :18:30.
:18:30. > :18:38.from captain Gethin Jenkins. The his own, to himself. Perform, or
:18:38. > :18:42.else. Message received and understood. It could never be so
:18:42. > :18:52.lovingly easy. Wales were put through another test of their new-
:18:52. > :18:57.
:18:57. > :19:04.found ability to cope when down a man. Leigh Halfpenny receiving a
:19:04. > :19:12.yellow card. Detest was passed again, with the help of some
:19:12. > :19:19.outstanding displays. It was a sign of the variety and depth in the
:19:19. > :19:29.squad. The game was made safe, and the captain of the day gave his
:19:29. > :19:31.
:19:31. > :19:37.final order - I will tap, you go. Alex Cuthbert, love of showjumping,
:19:37. > :19:41.on a development contract with the Blues. Nearly four faults. Instead,
:19:41. > :19:51.five points, and named man of the match. Job done, said the body
:19:51. > :19:54.
:19:54. > :20:00.language. Let's talk grand-slam, said the body language. And so we
:20:00. > :20:10.did - talk Grand Slam, white Grand Slam, draw Grand Slam and sin Grand
:20:10. > :20:13.
:20:13. > :20:20.Slam. We sang along to another internet hit. Even Hollywood star
:20:20. > :20:24.David Hasselhoff did the Grand Slam. The boys tweeted Grand Slam.
:20:24. > :20:29.Twitter is a great tool. We do appreciate how patriotic and how
:20:29. > :20:34.much support we have got. They can see what we get up to a bit, and
:20:34. > :20:39.the banter that goes on between the boys. It keeps us saying. If you
:20:39. > :20:45.are in Cardiff for the Grand Slam showdown on Saturday, the latest
:20:45. > :20:50.forecast is for sunshine and showers. It is now time for the
:20:50. > :20:58.shipping forecast, issued by the Met Office on Saturday, the 17th
:20:58. > :21:04.March. South-west, veering... woke up first thing in the morning,
:21:04. > :21:08.and you did not even have time to think. In my hotel, it was quiet at
:21:08. > :21:18.Breakfast. Saturday morning was the first time I felt nervous. It hit
:21:18. > :21:38.
:21:38. > :21:43.I had never seen Cardiff so busy. Absolute sea of red everywhere,
:21:43. > :21:53.which was brilliant. That is one of the best bits of the day, when you
:21:53. > :22:07.
:22:08. > :22:17.screamed a troublesome team into shape, barked them to a Grand Slam.
:22:18. > :22:36.
:22:36. > :22:46.looking down on the ground he once graced. This would be, for everyone,
:22:46. > :22:47.
:22:48. > :22:51.this would be for Mervyn Davies. Bang on cue, as forecast, the rain
:22:51. > :22:55.fell on Cardiff. Perfect for the party workers who had demanded that
:22:55. > :23:05.the roof be opened. The Grand Slam might yet be a slippery prize to
:23:05. > :23:09.
:23:09. > :23:16.seize. Wales began smoothly enough, pressing, probing, keeping France
:23:16. > :23:22.at full stretch, a test of staying power. On such a day, who would
:23:22. > :23:32.last? Who might not? For but suddenly, France were off the back
:23:32. > :23:32.
:23:32. > :27:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 80 seconds
:27:04. > :27:14.Halfpenny is going for gold. And Leigh Halfpenny extends the lead
:27:14. > :27:24.back to 16-9. The man of the Match is Dan Lydiate. He has been
:27:24. > :27:30.
:27:30. > :27:40.absolutely mad Deverson. -- magnificent. It is all over. Wales
:27:40. > :28:09.