0:00:12 > 0:00:16In 2007, Welsh rugby was lurching towards another crisis.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20A disastrous World Cup campaign, ending with defeat to Fiji,
0:00:20 > 0:00:25led to the sacking of coach Gareth Jenkins in a car park.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28The WRU management scoured the world for his replacement.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32On behalf of the board of directors of the Welsh Rugby Union,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35it is my honour and my pleasure to officially announce
0:00:35 > 0:00:39that the new national coach of Wales
0:00:39 > 0:00:41is Warren Gatland.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Warren Gatland was appointed as the new coach of Wales
0:00:46 > 0:00:48on the eve of the Six Nations,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50and he came with a huge reputation.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53I remember having a phone call with him, asking me
0:00:53 > 0:00:55if I would like to captain the Welsh squad.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59It was a monumental moment for me, really. It was a moment in my life
0:00:59 > 0:01:01that...was a turning point, really,
0:01:01 > 0:01:05and my career went from strength to strength, and my reputation alike.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10We entered that competition with a real desire
0:01:10 > 0:01:14as well as a real measured approach on how to manufacture
0:01:14 > 0:01:16and win a Six Nations competition.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19We were told in no uncertain terms what was required of us,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21and the onus was put on 30 players
0:01:21 > 0:01:23to go and implement it over the following nine weeks.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27First up was England at Twickenham,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30a place where Wales hadn't tasted victory for 20 years.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33There were 13 Ospreys in the starting line-up.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It's a wonderful place to go and play rugby,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38there's a huge amount of heritage there.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43We always said that records are there to be broken,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46we hadn't won there for God knows how many years.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49But we were thrown the gauntlet... why CAN'T it be our turn,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52what is there to be afraid of?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54What haven't we got in our armoury?
0:01:54 > 0:01:58We had some moments of brilliance which allowed us to turn that game.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00It's off for Wales!
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Good pickup by Gethin Jenkins!
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Back to Williams, back to Phillips!
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Oh, England, what have you done? And, Wales, what are you doing?
0:02:12 > 0:02:16You take a huge, huge amount of confidence from a victory like that,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and it was something we built on.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Scotland were Wales's next victims,
0:02:27 > 0:02:32as Gatling's men powered to a 30-15 victory in Cardiff.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Hook with a hand-off... James Hook straight through!
0:02:37 > 0:02:40And the campaign ignited a fortnight later,
0:02:40 > 0:02:44as Wales romped to a record 47-8 victory over Italy -
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Tom Shanklin celebrating his 50th cap with one of five tries.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Sonny Parker to Shane Williams. His eyes open up!
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Outside to Lee Byrne if he needs it!
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Surely Shane Williams does it!
0:02:56 > 0:02:59He has his second try!
0:02:59 > 0:03:02And there is an enormous smile on the face of Welsh rugby.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07Next stop was Dublin. The triple crown was within Wales's grasp.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11We were two weeks away from achieving something
0:03:11 > 0:03:14that you would get remembered for forever, you know,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and one loss or one bad game can take it all away.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21It's such a fine margin, but the reward far outweighs
0:03:21 > 0:03:24the sacrifice, the effort, the energy, the pain.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And it was just keeping that focus
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and striving, and continuing to strive to make history.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34We were off to Croke Park for the first time.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38You had in the mix the history of Warren Gatland, Eddie O'Sullivan,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41the history of Croke Park itself.
0:03:41 > 0:03:42But everything felt right.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45We were a team that was full of confidence.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47You know, we went there to win,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50expecting to win, and that wasn't built on a false hope
0:03:50 > 0:03:52or it was built on the foundations
0:03:52 > 0:03:55of a game that we talked about, we were building on,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58it was built on confidence that the guys within the team
0:03:58 > 0:04:00were playing very well as individuals as well.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02We knew what it would take to win.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07It's the return of an old stager that catches the eye today.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Paul O'Connell's influence will be felt all over the pitch,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12especially at line-out time.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Injuries to Geordan Murphy and Girvan Dempsey have prompted
0:04:15 > 0:04:17a serious reshuffle in the back three.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Shane Horgan returns on the right wing,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Tommy Bowe switches to the left,
0:04:21 > 0:04:2421-year-old Rob Kearney starts a test at full-back
0:04:24 > 0:04:27for the first time. A late change for Wales.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Hooker Huw Bennett has gone down with the lurgy,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32so Matthew Rees is promoted from the bench.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35He'll pack down with Adam Jones, who's back again at three.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38In the second row, Alun Wyn Jones is fit to go again.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Two big selection calls at nine and ten -
0:04:41 > 0:04:43the physical presence of Mike Phillips
0:04:43 > 0:04:45preferred to Dwayne Peel at scrum-half,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48the experience and control of Stephen Jones
0:04:48 > 0:04:50keeps him ahead of James Hook at fly half.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54The replacements - Ireland's Luke Fitzgerald will have a nervous wait
0:04:54 > 0:04:57for his first introduction to this Six Nations jamboree.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Peel and Hook are asked to bide their time
0:05:00 > 0:05:03before they can exert any influence on proceedings.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Cardiff hooker Gareth Williams only flew in last night.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Ireland and Wales still both on course,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14let's not forget, for the Triple Crown.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Wales, though, still eyeing the Grand Slam.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20And this promises to be very, very special,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23as Ronan O'Gara get us under way.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Ireland in the green, Wales in the red.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31We are all in sunshine and the ball
0:05:31 > 0:05:36is in the arms of Jonathan Thomas, the Osprey winning his 43rd cap.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Back to Lee Byrne.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Had his best game for Wales against Italy in the last outing.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46His first clearing touch.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48It will be interesting to see how often Wales
0:05:48 > 0:05:52actually kick the ball into touch. Their line-up has been terrible.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- WHISTLE BLOWS - And they have conceded the first penalty as well.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58They've been patting themselves on the back
0:05:58 > 0:06:00over the past couple of weeks about their discipline.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04But immediately Wayne Barnes, who is particularly hot on the breakdown
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and players rolling away, has penalised Wales,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10and Ireland have the first possible kick at goal.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12We will see if O'Gara goes for it.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15It might be just a little bit breezy.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It certainly looks as if O'Gara is going to bump this into touch,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21rather than go for the opportunity of three points that were on offer.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Maybe Ireland just want to keep this tight into the wind.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29They don't want an open wide, unstructured game,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31that would play into Wales's hands.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34So far Wales coping with it very well.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36And O'Gara, like the rest of us,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40waiting for the ball to be given some air.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Ireland's forwards look like they've lost the ball.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44It's loose, but they get it back.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Penalties coming...for Ireland.
0:06:48 > 0:06:54All that hard work and endeavour, it leads to the penalty.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57It looked for a second as if they'd lost the ball.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59But Wales have conceded the penalty
0:06:59 > 0:07:01and now surely this one will be kicked.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06And he's done it. And Ireland ahead.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09All the muscle and endeavour of the pack leading to the first
0:07:09 > 0:07:14three points for Ronan O'Gara and for Eddie O'Sullivan's Ireland.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Things to ponder for the man now in the Welsh box, Warren Gatland.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Ireland 3, Wales 0, five minutes played.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Irish line-out won by O'Callaghan.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Back to something approaching his best again,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28he really is starting to fizz, O'Callaghan.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30REF: Hands on ball, do not collapse.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33After all the talk about dodgy line-outs before the match,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36both sides are giving us a masterclass
0:07:36 > 0:07:39when it comes to throwing the darts in at the moment.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41REF: Not the head! Not the head!
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Well, that's been well defended by Wales.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50As soon as the ball is won, they've got Ireland on the back foot
0:07:50 > 0:07:52and it's going to be slow ball again for Ireland,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54that's what they want to do.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01A roar for the shove by the forwards.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05It might not look much but it's such hard work for these forwards,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07it's energy-sapping stuff.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10- REF BLOWS WHISTLE - All this hard work in the pack
0:08:10 > 0:08:13will hopefully pay off later on.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15And another penalty to Ireland.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Two from two. Perfect.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Ireland have taken their chances in the first quarter,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Wales have paid for their indiscipline.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Two penalties, Ireland 6, Wales 0.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40A quarter of the match gone in the Dublin sunshine.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Ireland leading by six points to nil.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45REF: Stay on, stay on, 6 Red!
0:08:52 > 0:08:55REF: No, there's the ball, don't touch anyone with your feet, no need.
0:08:58 > 0:08:59Reddan to O'Gara.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Again, the little chip over
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Shane Williams into the space that he sensed was behind.
0:09:04 > 0:09:10Oh, and that corner flag could only have been made in Ireland.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15This is now a big line-out nonetheless for Matthew Rees.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17The Llanelli Scarlet.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22And it's won by Paul O'Connell but ball went forward.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27REF: Crouch, touch, engage.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35The Welsh having to work hard there and Ryan Jones now having to
0:09:35 > 0:09:38work very hard to get it back on his team-mates' side.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41There it is though for Phillips. Byrne won't have long.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45That left boot is such a useful weapon in defence, though.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Terrifically taken by Kearney, however. This is Bowe.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53REF: Hands away, Red!
0:09:53 > 0:09:54Reddan.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Shane Horgan! Big hole, Horgan, big man!
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- Oh, just held up! - REF BLOWS WHISTLE
0:10:02 > 0:10:04Just held up!
0:10:04 > 0:10:05It was a lovely dummy by Horgan,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08he makes the decision early to cut back in and Lee Byrne reads it
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- and just slows him up enough for Phillips to get in there.- No.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12That's short.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19It would have been slightly against the run of play and opportunistic
0:10:19 > 0:10:22but it was made by Reddan, the chance, that's what he offers.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25The tackle's important from Mike Phillips, isn't it?
0:10:25 > 0:10:28And if it was any other scrum-half, Horgan would surely have scored.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30If that had been Dwayne Peel wearing the number 9,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- Ireland would now be celebrating a try, but it isn't.- That's right,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35I just think Horgan made his decision too early
0:10:35 > 0:10:37in cutting in from Lee Byrne, it allowed him
0:10:37 > 0:10:42to slow himself up and that gave Phillips time to make the tackle.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45REF: Just to confirm, that is a knock-on by Green. Scrum, Red.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47- OFFICIAL:- Confirmed.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51REF: No try. Scrum, knock-on.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Horgan won't get any closer than that without scoring.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01This, though, an opportunity for Wales.
0:11:01 > 0:11:02REF BLOWS WHISTLE
0:11:02 > 0:11:04And it's a penalty.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08REF: It stopped a fair contest.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17He gauges it to perfection.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19And Wales are on the board for the first time.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23It's taken 26 minutes but it's now Ireland 6, Wales 3.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32There's still really nothing in this.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Terrific line-out ball from Alun Wyn Jones.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Some momentum was lost as Phillips
0:11:40 > 0:11:43struggled to gather the ball in initially.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Shane Williams, though, releasing again for Wales.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Gough, oh, lovely play! Ryan Jones, the captain.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Support is up quickly.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Wales are really coming back into this one.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55That was behind Stephen Jones, had to readjust,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58but there are so many men clear on the wide right-hand side!
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Ball was intended for Martyn Williams.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05It was a knock-on in the end.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16Ryan Jones on the charge, 7m short.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17REF: And away!
0:12:18 > 0:12:23Wales straining everything for a try that they would probably deserve.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26They've dominated the last ten minutes.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28- REF BLOWS WHISTLE - Ireland's defence being tested
0:12:28 > 0:12:31in a way it's not been tested in the championship so far,
0:12:31 > 0:12:35really, and penalty now for Wales.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Now, we're going to have a change of decision here
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and it's going to be problems for Mike Phillips.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46REF: It's going to be your penalty.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Christophe Berdos has told Wayne Barnes
0:12:49 > 0:12:52what he thinks happened here.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57Oh, dear.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03REF: This man has dropped his knee onto his back.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Recommendation, yellow card.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07He's cost you three points and he goes to the bin.
0:13:07 > 0:13:14The first half, it was ending with so much hope and optimism for Wales.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17It's going to end with them down to 14 players and what's more,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21the scrum-half, Mike Phillips, is the man who's being binned.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Just stupid.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28And Wales have been happy with their discipline leading up to this game,
0:13:28 > 0:13:33they will not be happy with their discipline in this first 40 minutes.
0:13:33 > 0:13:34REF: Hands away, Red!
0:13:34 > 0:13:36REF: That's a good clear-out, not a problem.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39He's an abrasive character, Mike Phillips.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42It's the feature of his game, it's what makes him
0:13:42 > 0:13:44such a special scrum-half, his physical presence
0:13:44 > 0:13:47but on that occasion, he just overdid it.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51REF: Hands away now, 7.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54And we're back to where we were at the start of the first half.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Ireland happy just to keep it tight, keep it close.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04And Reddan into touch. Well, it's not been a classic.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Ireland started well enough, took a 6-0 lead, Wales have fought
0:14:07 > 0:14:10their way back into it, but they'll be furious that they're not ahead.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17The game itself was going OK,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20we didn't feel under a huge amount of pressure.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23We were still... I felt like we had... For a lot of the competition
0:14:23 > 0:14:26we were still able to sort of impose ourselves, if you like.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29We were still managing to achieve
0:14:29 > 0:14:31what we wanted to in certain scenarios.
0:14:31 > 0:14:37The set pieces were going pretty well. But then you start questioning.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40The difficulty comes when your kicker misses a kick
0:14:40 > 0:14:43and it's compounded by another mistake, a yellow card,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46you know, something else goes against you.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49But these games are about... It was always going to be
0:14:49 > 0:14:51a tight, tight game, you know.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54These games, the margins are so small.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Only one team this season can win a Grand Slam
0:14:59 > 0:15:01and a half-time they are behind.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05What's more, for the first nine minutes of this second half,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Wales will have to do without Mike Phillips.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It will be fascinating to see how they fill in at scrum-half,
0:15:10 > 0:15:12a specialist position.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Not easy to cover the cracks, as Stephen Jones has us back under way.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20This is the full-back Rob Kearney.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Solid introduction to life as a test match full-back Kearney
0:15:24 > 0:15:25in that first 40 minutes.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28And O'Gara, now with the Dublin breeze behind him,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30finds a safe enough touch.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39I wonder how much that yellow card will play on Warren Gatland's
0:15:39 > 0:15:43thoughts as he ponders the final game against the French in Cardiff
0:15:43 > 0:15:46for what may yet be a potential Grand Slam clincher.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Long, long way to go yet.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52And away!
0:15:52 > 0:15:55But Wales have started the second half like they finished the first,
0:15:55 > 0:15:56very much in the ascendancy
0:15:56 > 0:16:00and beginning to boss things in this area at the breakdown.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Winning lots of possession, can they turn all this possession
0:16:03 > 0:16:05and territory finally into points?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08It's still in.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10WHISTLE BLOWS
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Ball was loose and it is a penalty.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22CHEERING
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Stephen Jones's second penalty.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Early knock-ins in the second half, and despite being a man down,
0:16:29 > 0:16:30Wales are now level.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Ireland six, Wales six, it could
0:16:33 > 0:16:35not be more perfectly balanced.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Phillips back on.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Not only have Wales survived the ten minutes without him,
0:16:43 > 0:16:44they've profited.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47They were 6-3 down, it's now 6-6.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Here he is.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Burning to make amends, doubtless, into the arms of Tommy Bowe,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57originally picked to start on the right wing.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59This is the full-back, Rob Kearney.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03And away, Reds.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06O'Driscoll.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Byrne again.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Trimble.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23O'Gara, spreading it for Kearney.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Not quite sure where he was going there and he might have been turned.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30And he has. Look at Martin Williams.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Hands off, Green!
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Not so much pickpocketing as mugging.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Kearney's mistake, Wales's ball.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Ryan Jones to Tom Shanklin, has Mark Jones outside.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Shanklin holds on to possession as he was tackled by Bowe. Phillips.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Driven on. By Alun Wyn Jones.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Wheels are bossing this. There's only one team in it at the moment.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58And it's not the home team.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Hands away, Green!
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Ryan Jones.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09That's the Irish 22.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Phillips to Jones, to Williams.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Ohhh! Lee Byrne,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19aching for the pass that never came. Stephen Jones.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Now then some whip. Shane Williams - always a buzz of excitement.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Williams has scored!
0:18:26 > 0:18:27WHISTLE BLOWS
0:18:27 > 0:18:31Is there a sharper winger in the world at the moment than
0:18:31 > 0:18:34sizzling Shane? And Wales deservedly are ahead.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37And Williams...
0:18:37 > 0:18:42pulls aside Gareth Thomas as the sharpest tool ever in the Welsh box.
0:18:42 > 0:18:4740 tries for him. He is in blistering form.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52It goes without saying that in such a tight game,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54kicks like this may be important.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56It's a really tricky one.
0:18:56 > 0:18:57Ohhhh! Stephen Jones!
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Stephen Jones threads the needle.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Wales have a seven-point score.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07And Williams for the first time in his career has scored
0:19:07 > 0:19:08a try against Ireland.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12He has never punctured the Green defence before this moment.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20If they are going to turn this around, they are going to
0:19:20 > 0:19:22really need to stop the flow of possession to Wales
0:19:22 > 0:19:25because the way they're playing at the moment, it's going to be
0:19:25 > 0:19:29a difficult afternoon, albeit with the breeze not in their favour.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32So that's what Wales planned.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35But it fell into the grateful arms of Martin Williams nonetheless.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Phillips. Now, big, big hole. Looks for support.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43He needs it. He's not going to get all on his own but he's into the 22.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Wales get a quick ball here.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48There will be enormous alarm bells ringing. Gavin Henson.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Looks for the options on the wide outside. Lee Byrne to Mark Jones.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55The green Irish defence is back.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57But the initial burst was from Mike Phillips
0:19:57 > 0:19:58and that created this situation.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Jones - to Phillips.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Back inside to Alun Wyn Jones.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Phillips again.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Tom Shanklin - if he can get the ball away...
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Shane Williams is all on his own on the left-hand side.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Now Ireland have got the numbers across
0:20:17 > 0:20:19and the ball was knocked forward.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24There was another opportunity.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26An hour gone at Croke Park.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28And Ireland beginning to make
0:20:28 > 0:20:32a comeback with a terrific ball inside.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35The ball could have come from Heaslip.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36Oh, goodness me!
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Decision.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Don't run at me and shout or the penalty will be reversed.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44Coming up from Wayne Barnes though it's a penalty against Wales.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- It's another yellow card. - Cynical trip.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54And Martyn Williams has gone.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Well, what a break from Jamie Heaslip.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00He's been at the centre of most good things for Ireland
0:21:00 > 0:21:02so far this season.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04APPLAUSE
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Whoa! He's got it.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09For half a second he looked like he'd fluffed it
0:21:09 > 0:21:11but they are back to within four points.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Into the final quarter, Ireland 9, Wales 13.
0:21:15 > 0:21:20And Martyn Williams is off because of this trip on Eoin Reddan.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Well, whatever about the first red card,
0:21:22 > 0:21:23that was a definite...
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Sorry, yellow card - that was a definite yellow card.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34That's a better scrum from Ireland.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Reddan to O'Gara. Trimble offers himself.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38WHISTLE BLOWS
0:21:38 > 0:21:41O'Gara takes the tackle. Penalty to Ireland.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Again offside... Now then.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Oh, the game's getting better and better, isn't it?
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Who'd be Eddie O'Sullivan?
0:21:56 > 0:21:57Who'd be a coach?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Which box would you rather be in?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02The one on the right...
0:22:03 > 0:22:05..or the one on the left?
0:22:16 > 0:22:17Eight minutes to go.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23Reddan.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Now, the test, for Lee Byrne.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Gets the ball and gets up onto his feet quickly.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34And turns back towards his own players.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Absolutely textbook from Lee Byrne,
0:22:38 > 0:22:42who just gets better and better, it seems, with every game at full back.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Thomas, forced away.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Phillips, to Hook.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Holding up in the wind a little bit,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01as it's taken well by Kearney, under plenty of pressure from Henson.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Wales with players there, but enough green shirts
0:23:04 > 0:23:07to protect the ball for them. O'Gara, thrillingly.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Remember, they're still going for the Triple Crown themselves.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15If they can pull themselves through this one,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18then they'll go to London with that very much in mind.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23So much still on offer for both sides, and still seven minutes
0:23:23 > 0:23:27left to play. This has been a real slow-burner,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29but I defy anyone to take their eyes off it now.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30Trimble.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36That is good Welsh defence, though, isn't it?
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Ireland really looking for gaps, but there are no gaps there at all.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48This is Jackman.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Reddan looking for support and it is almost as if
0:23:55 > 0:23:58they are arguing between themselves.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01Trimble didn't seem entirely happy
0:24:01 > 0:24:04with whatever Eion Reddan was saying.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- WHISTLE - And it's a penalty to Wales!
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Oh, now, then!
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Well, he was pointing at Bernard Jackman when he said that.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19There is no need for that, at all.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21We can see that again...
0:24:23 > 0:24:26That really wasn't going to achieve anything.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28The ball is nowhere near it, so that is gratuitous.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31How badly hurt Jones is, we don't know, but...
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Ryan Jones has got his arms up in the air and that, again,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36is just plain stupid from Bernard Jackman.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Only just come on to the pitch.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47This to give Wales just a little bit of breathing space.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51It means that an Irish penalty would not be enough.
0:24:56 > 0:24:57Where is it going?
0:24:57 > 0:24:59It's going the Welsh way!
0:24:59 > 0:25:00It's straight between the posts!
0:25:00 > 0:25:05It is James Hook and it is Wales with a four-point cushion,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07as they bear down on the Triple Crown!
0:25:10 > 0:25:12The giant grasp of Duncan Jones.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Not sure our cameras have had to move for the last 90 seconds.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Wales are playing out time.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36It is not the most entertaining facet of the game, but its one
0:25:36 > 0:25:40which is beginning to creep in. But it is mightily effective.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44And it is doubly so when you are 30 seconds away from a Triple Crown.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47And who would have thought this after the wreckage of the World Cup?
0:25:47 > 0:25:52After the wreckage of Nantes and the defeat against Fiji...
0:25:54 > 0:25:56..and the sacking of the coach.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57What a difference for Wales.
0:25:57 > 0:26:0120 seconds to go and they are
0:26:01 > 0:26:0320 seconds away from winning the Triple Crown.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Taken on by Duncan Jones.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Into the final ten seconds. It's all done for Ireland.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15It's all smiles for Wales.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Mike Phillips...into touch!
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Wayne Barnes looks for confirmation.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29It's a little bit of a pause...
0:26:29 > 0:26:32- WHISTLE - ..but it was one worth waiting for!
0:26:32 > 0:26:33Wales have won in Dublin!
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Wales have won the Triple Crown
0:26:36 > 0:26:38and they deserved it!
0:26:45 > 0:26:49That was the first moment for me, personally, that I got to lift
0:26:49 > 0:26:52silverware as a Welsh captain and is a moment I'll never, ever forget.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56To see Martyn Williams' face as he came off.
0:26:56 > 0:27:02To see, just, the jubilation in him. There was a relief.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08The Triple Crown belongs to Wales!
0:27:08 > 0:27:11The Triple Crown has red ribbons on it!
0:27:15 > 0:27:18So, it was realisation. You put all those emotions into a pot
0:27:18 > 0:27:21and it is a great place to be. Moments like that
0:27:21 > 0:27:23live with you for ever. It is only as I'm getting older,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26you're able to reflect on those. You roll from one to another,
0:27:26 > 0:27:32fortunately, at times, but when you actually sit back and you think
0:27:32 > 0:27:36and you drag out a photo or you watch a DVD -
0:27:36 > 0:27:38"Crikey!" These are key moments.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42They are a small part of Welsh rugby history, right there and then,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and we were part of it and we were creating it.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50There was a realisation then that we had one game to go, France,
0:27:50 > 0:27:56and we were on the verge of achieving something very, very special -
0:27:56 > 0:27:59the second Gram Slam in three years.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01They don't come any bigger than that.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05That is a monumental fixture and it's in our own back yard.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07And it's within grasp.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Williams! It's a foot race and Shane Williams is going to get there!
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Oh! A breakaway try!
0:28:14 > 0:28:18That's the wonderful thing about how sport... We had an opportunity.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22We weren't relying on other results. We had just set ourselves up
0:28:22 > 0:28:25for the opportunity to take home the ultimate prize
0:28:25 > 0:28:26in Northern Hemisphere rugby.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30And they seized that opportunity, beating France convincingly,
0:28:30 > 0:28:35by 29-12, in front of a rapturous home crowd.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Martyn Williams finished the job, after his namesake Shane
0:28:39 > 0:28:42had become his country's highest-ever try scorer.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45It was their second Grand Slam in three years.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50Warren Gatland's reign could not have begun in more dramatic fashion.