Ireland v Wales 1978 Scrum V Classics

The Welsh team of 1978 were going in search of an unprecedented goal -

a triple-Triple Crown.

This was the most golden of generations,

a side packed with superstars.

But, unbeknown to their legions of loyal fans,

some of the biggest names of all would be hanging up their boots for good at the end of the tournament.

But for now they were focused on another assault on the Five Nations Championship

and had started confidently with wins over England and Scotland.

Now Edwards to Bennett, along the line there to Fenwick.

The change of tactic.

CHEERING DROWNS OUT COMMENTARY

-CROWD CHEERS

-Bennett, drawing it in.

His third penalty of the match.

150 not out for the Welsh captain.

Gareth Edwards.

And it's Edwards again.

Has he made the score?

Gravell. Gravell of Llanelli.

And Gravell is there!

The presence of so many household names and Wales' recent run of form

made them overwhelming favourites to win in Ireland.

The expectations of the media were incredible.

Wales were going for the triple-Triple Crown

and I think it was the first time in history

that a side could win a triple-Triple Crown.

So, in a way, perhaps quite rightly,

they were giving plaudits to some of the Welsh team.

They were saying, "What hope have Ireland got?"

The great Gareth Edwards, the great Gerald Davies,

the great JPR Williams.

If one fails, the other two will come off.

They really built Wales up into such a team

that they were almost world-beaters.

Phil had other things on his mind.

He'd recently returned from a gruelling Lions tour

and was beginning to fall out of love with the game.

Bennett, Irvine.

He's knocked it on. That surely is it.

The final whistle goes.

The last chance has gone.

'Before the game,'

I'd been thinking to myself, "I'm missing my family,

"missing going out with my son on a Sunday,"

because we used to train in the Afan Lido every Sunday

before the internationals.

The Lions tour had caught up with me especially because I was captain.

I didn't have a very good Lions tour.

I think we were physically and mentally shattered.

We realised by the time we got to Lansdowne Road

how difficult a game it was going to be.

What will stick in my mind for ever and a day was, we had the team-talk,

the boys were up for it and I'm feeling fairly confident.

Knock comes on the door, referee wants you to toss the coin.

It's Georges Domercq, an old friend of mine,

and Georges loved a fluent, fast-moving game.

I'm thinking, "Hang on, do we really need Georges this afternoon or do we want a stricter referee?"

So we stroll down towards the Irish dressing room

and the noise coming out of there was almost unbelievable.

We couldn't hear ourselves talk.

They were really getting pumped up for the game.

I looked at the door of the dressing room

and there was steam coming from underneath the door.

I thought, "Oh, my goodness me."

We went on to the pitch first as the visitors

and the crowd was incredible.

There were a lot of Welsh supporters out there. Great welcome.

Then all of a sudden... And you know when a team comes out.

They absolutely flew out of the tunnel, out into the pitch,

and were going 100mph and you know a team is pumped up there.

I can always remember saying to a mate as he passed -

Fergus Slattery who I toured with for a long time in 1974 -

"All right, Slatts, everything OK?"

and I can't say to you what words he told me that very second,

but something was off.

Very, very strong words, and I thought, "Oh, my goodness,

"this is going to be some battle."

And it did turn out to be a huge battle.

All await this deciding match

as Wales challenge for the Triple Crown at Lansdowne Road once again.

Five times Ireland have denied them. Can it happen once again,

as Bennett kicks off?

Wales, from left to right, unchanged from the side

that has won their first two matches this season

against England and Scotland.

So, the first line-out.

Long for Jeff Squire but stolen at the back by Willie Duggan.

Ireland run it straight away.

That's good running there by Alistair McKibbin.

On the ten-metre line.

The drive taken on by Harry Steele with Ned Byrne.

John Moloney over the top of Ward.

And it's out to McLennan, inside it is to McKibbin.

McKibbin held by Derek Quinnell on the 22-metre line.

And what a start by Ireland.

And the whistle's gone.

Pat Whelan with the throw. To the middle.

Moss Keane deflects to Moloney. To Ward.

The dummy scissors and straight out to Ensor, coming into the line.

JPR Williams outside the 22.

Looks inside, is caught, though, by Moss Keane.

Ireland drive over but it's picked up by Derek Quinnell

and Bennett leans back, looks for the long touch and finds it

with a superbly-placed diagonal ball.

Phil Bennett, the Welsh captain. This his 28th appearance for Wales.

Moloney. Didn't look straight, nor was it.

So a free kick against John Moloney for that crooked feed

and it looks as though Wales will run it.

Edwards hoists one way across field into the Irish 22.

Gibson it is.

Gibson.

CROWD CHEER

And listen to that roar!

To the middle. Martin, two-handed, leaps high.

Sets it up well on the halfway line.

And Wales drive on but the mauling in there...

And it looks as though Ireland have broken away with possession.

They have through Ned Byrne to Slattery, to Phil Orr.

Orr flips it up to Harry Steele.

But the pass adjudged to be off the ground after the tackle

and a penalty to Wales.

Eight minutes played

and a chance for Wales to go ahead through Fenwick.

It's over. What a superb kick!

It just carried over the crossbar.

So, Wales take first blood

after just eight-and-a-half minutes

through the boot of Steve Fenwick from Bridgend.

Edwards, in his tenth match against Ireland.

And it's a foot-up decision against Bobby Windsor.

What will Moloney do here?

Opts for the tapped penalty to Tony Ward.

Ward's first run is caught by Cobner.

Inside the 22 and a penalty it is, in front of the posts.

And Wales had come round offside.

Ireland trailing by six points. Ward...

No mistake at all with that.

So, Ireland's first points of the match

pull them within three points of the Wales total after 16 minutes.

For Tony Ward, his 20th point in international rugby

in this, his third international.

The tail of the line there with Derek Quinnell

beside Terry Cobner.

Windsor it is that throws long for Squire, challenged by Slattery.

Quinnell on the peel, held by Duggan and Slattery as well.

Red shirts trying to drive over the top.

Man and ball together

and interference by Ireland with the ball.

19 minutes into the first half, Fenwick again.

And Fenwick it is again.

Three out of three for Steve Fenwick,

taking advantage of Ireland's mistakes and putting Wales,

once again, six points clear

as we come up to midway in this first half.

Tony Ward.

And the pattern repeated there with Keane and Martin challenging.

Ireland win it, Moloney to Ward.

McNaughton.

JPR Williams waits and JJ Williams covers back.

That's McLennan.

Dummies the kick and runs, bouncing off Gerald Davies.

Wales, the put-in.

Good surge, channelled and controlled by Derek Quinnell

as they close in towards the Irish line.

They win it. Edwards, Bennett, the scissors, it's with Gravell.

Gravell almost to the line. Held up by the defence.

Wales still in possession, it's loose again, up from Price...

Fenwick going for the line, will he make it? He's got there!

What a try by Fenwick!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

So, it was that initial Welsh surge, the control,

then Ireland holding them up, but back it came again

and I think it was Graham Price that popped it up,

and finally Fenwick, seeing the gap appearing on the wide outside,

really pinned his ears back and sprinted for the line

and eventually made it for Wales' first try.

Still that willingness by Ireland to run,

but Ward not really in harmony with his back row.

A little slow to support.

Moloney. Ward switches left to Ensor.

JPR Williams with McLennan in with the tackle,

just outside the Welsh 22.

-The green shirts driving over man and ball...

-WHISTLE BLOWS

Squire.

Loosely back as Phil Orr and Pat Whelan came through.

Taken on by Moloney, now it's Orr again.

Driving up to the Welsh 22.

Still it's Philip Orr, this powerful prop forward from Leinster.

Now Moss Keane, Moss Keane on the rampage!

Five metres out and Ireland ever closer to that Welsh line.

Finally held up but given a penalty,

as Wales came round offside

and maybe that was a gesture from the referee

of the use of a fist or an arm at close quarters there.

Tony Ward.

No mistake at all that time,

so Ireland taking full advantage of Derek Quinnell's absence

to pull back three points and cut that deficit to just seven now

through a second penalty by Tony Ward.

And perhaps a guide to the strength of this Welsh team

is that four 1977 British Lions

number amongst the replacements today,

together with two who don't even make the 21-man squad

on duty today for Wales.

And Wales it is in possession. Gravell.

JPR Williams up on the burst, looks for support from Gerald Davies

but the tackle came with the pass from Alistair McKibbin.

Moss Keane wins it, though, well. Moloney to Ward.

Straight to McKibbin.

That was a poor pass to Ensor but he used his sense

and kept it with his foot as Gibson runs on and chips ahead.

BOOING

But obstruction way back against Gibson.

After he had chipped that ball ahead,

the tackle was late, the block by the Welshman.

PIPE BAND PLAYS

So it's Tony Ward to start this second half for Ireland.

Ward, having shown odd flashes of that confidence and class

we've seen in his debut season.

Wales, though, through 13 points by Steve Fenwick,

leading 13-6.

Edwards back to Bennett.

Wales, challenging for the Triple Crown today,

happy with that seven-point lead, no doubt.

Cobner and Quinnell trying to clean it up

and there's the mauler supreme, Geoff Wheel, leading the way,

supported by Bobby Windsor and Jeff Squire.

And still Wales in possession and going forward,

setting it back now to Edwards.

Ensor...

..switches to the open side.

JPR Williams coming to cover across-field...

-BOOING

-..and the crowd reacting to that earlier obstruction

on Mike Gibson by JPR Williams and giving him the bird.

So, it's Edwards to put in, in midfield.

And it was a foot-up decision against Windsor,

giving the free kick to Ireland.

No direct kick at goal allowed, of course,

so perhaps we'll see the drop goal.

There it is from Tony Ward!

So calmly executed

but so effective.

So Ireland, within two-and-a-half minutes of this second half,

pull back another three points.

From Martin to Edwards, Bennett,

now down the line the ball goes,

Gravell, trying to make the half-break.

Fenwick under pressure, though, from McKibbin.

WHISTLE BLOWS

And the whistle goes.

Quinnell the first hands on it but Duggan comes through,

up to the halfway line,

sets it back perfectly for Moloney. Now Ward.

-CHEERING

-On the line or out on the full?

It's bounced into touch,

so good ground made by the diagonal ball from Tony Ward.

A lone daffodil signifying a band -

and there are many of them here, too - of Welsh supporters.

Duggan bursts through, held by Cobner.

Allan Martin going in with first hand and then boot,

and the referee not happy with the climbing-in with the boot.

Wales lead as Ensor tries this goal from the halfway line.

12-and-a-half minutes into the second half.

It's a huge kick...

just dropping short as JPR Williams switches to Gerald Davies

on the scissors out of defence.

Gerald Davies weaving another intricate path.

Finds JPR Williams.

CHEERING

Edwards, Bennett, Gravell,

Fenwick, down the line for the first time completely!

From JPR Williams to JJ

and the crunching tackles of Gibson and Slattery.

Almost a forlorn look there on the face of JPR Williams.

That's good tackling in defence, the quick line-out taken from Price.

Edwards to Bennett.

Bennett on one of those long outside runs.

Still Bennett going.

And a touch of an Irish hand of Tony Ward in the way.

But that was smart, quick thinking by Wales,

Ireland not alive to the situation

and Wales taking full advantage.

Stolen at the tail by Slattery, now Steele drives on,

sets it through to Ned Byrne.

Now Slattery, now Moss Keane.

Gravell in there with the tackle but Keane, like a bull!

Still Moss Keane, leading the Irish drive.

And the ball is there for Moloney.

Martin is through.

But still Ireland win it.

Slattery the scrum-half, to Tony Ward.

Ward, angling it for the corner,

which he does to perfection.

CHEERING

Windsor, long and dangerous.

Quinnell... Edwards goes down.

Ireland on the line, they appeal for the try!

But Georges Domercq had blown the whistle already

to give the scrummage.

Quickly taken. Deflected down and cleaned up by Ned Byrne.

Well served back to Moloney.

Ward, the garryowen...

JPR Williams, like a rock,

but tackled well by McNaughton.

The ball is loose in the in-goal area!

Gerald Davies is back there - Ireland claim the try

and they get it!

CHEERING

And was it Moss Keane, the man that gets it?

What a moment for Ireland as they level the scores

with an opportunist try there which came from Tony Ward.

A superb garryowen.

It looked as though Williams was firm as firm could be...

..but he was tackled well by McNaughton.

Wales attack. Edwards to Fenwick.

Fenwick running into lots of opposition,

but the ball is fed back again. Edwards to JPR Williams.

BOOING

WHISTLE BLOWS

Was Edwards offside?

-Moloney puts it away...

-BOOING

..JPR Williams gathers. Into the Irish half.

His hair streaming behind

as he carves his way through the Irish pack.

But a fine tackle there.

Edwards. Fenwick.

Up towards the Irish line as Gibson goes back.

The bounce was crucial then as Gibson went up high

and the ball in touch on the Irish line.

JJ Williams looks for the quick throw-in but it's a penalty,

I think given against Gibson

for a deliberate knock of the ball into touch -

yes, there, it's signalled by referee Domercq.

13-13 the score as Steve Fenwick kicks.

To the left of the uprights again

and Ireland breathe for another day.

13-13 the score remains. Just over 15 minutes left.

Tony Ward with the drop-out.

Martin, to Edwards,

long service finds Gravell.

Gravell going through the Irish pack. Still Gravell.

Up to the 22.

Edwards again, now Bennett.

Now Fenwick. JJ Williams outside,

that's one for him to chase...

but it's out on the full.

Bobby Windsor.

Untidily down but back on the Irish side.

Tony Ward, from McNaughton.

Out to McLennan.

Gerald Davies, marking his man supremely well.

And Wales win it too.

Edwards caught in two minds and Slattery gets the tackle in.

But the support is there from Alan Martin.

Ireland, though, still hounding and harrying.

Bennett chips ahead.

Ensor, placed...

Kicks to the open side where the spaces are.

There's no-one there as Fenwick comes back.

Gibson is through.

So too is McNaughton.

And, really, Ensor placed that well, he was using his brain.

And, somewhere in there, the ball.

Harry Steele there, number five,

searching to win it out

as Ireland followed through that long kick from Tony Ensor.

Wales pressing but still unable to break through this Irish defence.

Can they this time? Bennett.

Gravell on the crash ball,

is tackled well by McKibbin with Slattery in support.

Now Moss Keane!

Again, Cobner wrestling and trying to seize the ball from him.

Squire has it.

Good mauling by Wales.

Edwards dummies with Bennett.

Gibson goes back.

Difficult ball as JJ Williams came through.

Quickly taken, but Wales alive to it.

And that's Charlie Faulkner working it back.

Edwards switches to Bennett.

Now Jeff Squire, with JPR poised outside.

JPR now, and Gerald Davies...

Well, his first reasonable chance and the worst pass of the match.

Bobby Windsor.

Windsor, now, in possession.

Lovely service to Edwards.

Gravell, the dummy...

Now Fenwick, can he get the pass to JJ Williams?

Surely a try for JJ!

Yes, he's got it!

JJ Williams, a try against Ireland in '74,

a try in '75,

and that's an absolutely vital moment in Wales' effort today.

Wales just four minutes plus injury time

from a third consecutive Triple Crown

for the first time in history.

And that's Geoff Wheel.

Wheel, rampaging downfield but losing possession.

Stolen by Gravell but surely the ball thrown forward.

Three-and-a-half minutes of proper time left.

Wales bidding now for yet another Triple Crown.

WHISTLE BLOWS

That will help the cause, a penalty to Wales.

Steve Fenwick bidding for his fourth penalty.

He's got it.

Just over a minute of proper time left.

Moloney waits. Edwards is through but offside.

Ward, then. That looks useful!

He's got it. What a kick.

CHEERING

So that lead cut again to four points.

It's Tony Ward that does it again for Ireland.

Now we're into injury time

at the end of this remarkable game

of changing fortunes.

Bennett, the Welsh captain.

Caught by Steele.

Ireland mounting perhaps a last effort now.

Wales clinging to their four-point lead

as Ward sends it down into the Welsh half.

JPR Williams.

Recoils off McLennan into touch.

Whelan. On the loop move it's Willie Duggan, but the ball is knocked on.

The referee plays advantage as Cobner storms away.

On to Bobby Windsor, he runs into Moloney.

Held up just outside the 22.

There, the tireless Cobner once more.

Gesticulating his frustration in English to a French referee.

Edwards gets the tap signal from Bobby Windsor.

Dummies the pickup as Moloney comes round. He is given offside.

The captain of Wales, perhaps to set the seal on this match.

Phil Bennett.

He's missed it!

Ireland counter from their own in-goal area through Tony Ward.

But the loose pass is taken by Fenwick!

Fenwick eludes two men, the Welsh pack drive in.

Charlie Faulkner has it, desperate to feed it back.

It comes from Allan Martin. Edwards, the reverse pass.

Bounces off Gravell.

Ward, directing operations, receives it now. Speeds it long to McLennan.

McLennan inside to McNaughton.

McNaughton eventually back out to McLennan.

Inside it goes to McNaughton once more.

What a brave final effort as Moloney comes up.

Ireland certainly have given their all,

and what a game they've made of it.

Finally their effort is held up, the last effort of the match,

and Wales, in the fifth minute of injury time, have won 20-16.

Their third consecutive Triple Crown,

something never achieved before with the same 15 players all season.

'What was incredible for me was, as the teams went off,

'we shook hands, the Irish went to their dressing room,

'the Welsh lads went into our dressing room.'

I must have done an interview for Grandstand or something,

so I was about five minutes getting in,

late getting into the Welsh dressing room, I opened the door

expecting jubilation and champagne flowing.

There was not a murmur.

Sadness, if you like.

Guys were slumped in their seats, stockings rolled down.

There was blood everywhere on people's faces,

certainly forwards' faces.

Gerry Lewis, the physio, calling the doctor,

"This one needs to be stitched up, I'll see to this one."

No elation, no joy, nothing whatsoever.

I'm looking around the dressing room saying,

"Boys, we've won the triple-Triple Crown!"

But no reaction.

What was incredible as well was I finished a fortnight later

against France, Gareth Edwards finished a fortnight later

against France, so I am wondering, with all the things

in my background, I wanted to go out on a high, say thank you to the crowd,

but did that game in Lansdowne Road have a lasting effect?

It certainly took its toll that torrid afternoon.

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