:00:02. > :00:12.country. The noise levels in the build up to the game has been
:00:12. > :00:12.
:00:12. > :01:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:01:41. > :01:44.extraordinary, but there is nothing The talk is all of Grand Slams. The
:01:44. > :01:49.drama of Dublin and Twickenham and the two wins against Scotland and
:01:49. > :01:54.Italy, set up the perfect finale. It is perfect, of course, if France
:01:54. > :02:00.don't rediscover their flair and there is not a repeat of the night
:02:00. > :02:04.in Auckland, when a card dealt a hammer blow. That still hurts.
:02:05. > :02:11.If statistics can offer hope, they offer help to the Welsh today. In
:02:11. > :02:16.71 and 76, 78 and 08, a victory over the French has secured the
:02:16. > :02:21.Grand Slam. This is a Welsh team that has changed a lot. Two
:02:21. > :02:25.survivors from the starten line-up in 2005, in a side that played fast
:02:25. > :02:30.and free, they play tight and loose. This day is all about Wales, but
:02:30. > :02:35.the French have more than their share of support. Their team is
:02:35. > :02:38.more than capable of driving a wrecking ball through the best-laid
:02:38. > :02:42.plans. This could be a frustrating mix of
:02:42. > :02:46.the brilliant and the bannal, culminating in a display of passion
:02:46. > :02:52.and panache. The stands hope not. The overwhelming majority without
:02:52. > :02:57.tickets here today, just wanting to be a part of the side's success.
:02:57. > :03:02.Young pretenders to the crown of Mervyn Davies who years ago. Then
:03:02. > :03:06.it was Mervyn Davies, Gareth, Barry, now, it is Jordan, Lee, Sam and
:03:06. > :03:12.Barry, but there is still a match to be won.
:03:12. > :03:22.Obviously the death announced yesterday of Mervyn Davies adds
:03:22. > :03:25.
:03:25. > :03:29.poingnancy to this game today. He was a giant on and off the field.
:03:29. > :03:39.He was carried off. It is something to remember. Winning a Grand Slam
:03:39. > :03:46.
:03:46. > :03:56.Mervyn Davies was one of the great all-round players, that has ever
:03:56. > :03:58.
:03:58. > :04:07.played for Wales. He was just a damn nuisance to play
:04:07. > :04:17.against. It is the sign of a good forward.
:04:17. > :04:17.
:04:17. > :04:27.One of the greatest number eights that the world has ever seen.
:04:27. > :04:40.
:04:40. > :04:45.COMMENTATOR: In the middle Rawlston And from the days when the Welsh
:04:45. > :04:51.fans would go to the Cardiff Arms Park, to expect victory, 40 years
:04:51. > :05:01.on, to a crowd that are expecting victory this afternoon and a third
:05:01. > :05:03.
:05:03. > :05:08.How crucial a figure in Welsh rugby How crucial a figure in Welsh rugby
:05:08. > :05:18.How crucial a figure in Welsh rugby was Mervyn Davies? Where you
:05:18. > :05:19.
:05:19. > :05:27.mention JPR. Merv the Swerve Is in the list will stop we grow up
:05:27. > :05:35.watching Mervyn Davies. Not only for London Wales. He was a legend.
:05:36. > :05:40.He was a lovely man. By mentioned it adds an extra element to today.
:05:40. > :05:45.-- I mentioned. It is extraordinary when a great other game should die
:05:45. > :05:49.before a great occasion like this. When the game has started, it is
:05:49. > :05:55.the media who cares about that, for the players there is a match to be
:05:55. > :06:03.won. We pay respects to Mervyn Davies and our thoughts are with
:06:03. > :06:13.the family. They can remember him in the changing rooms. And then it
:06:13. > :06:17.
:06:17. > :06:21.will be business as usual. Tom has, your guys can spoil the party.
:06:21. > :06:25.disagree with the coaches. The game has to be played in good conditions.
:06:25. > :06:33.We have a fantastic stadium here, the roof should have been closed.
:06:33. > :06:37.The pitch is looking greasy. That might be a factor. It's could be. I
:06:37. > :06:41.have seen France playing more rugby in their warm up than in the Six
:06:41. > :06:50.Nations so far. I hope they take this attitude of training on to
:06:50. > :06:54.playing. We should decide whether it is open or not. Did the
:06:54. > :07:01.taxpayers and great Britain pay for the roof, or was it just the
:07:01. > :07:05.Welsh?! It is a big day for Warren Gatland, the Welsh coach. Good to
:07:05. > :07:12.see you. Welsh rugby lost a legend this week. Have the boys been
:07:12. > :07:18.spurred on by the news? He was a legend. Not just a great Welsh
:07:18. > :07:24.player, but one of the greatest in the world. The former captain of a
:07:24. > :07:32.Grand Slam winning team. It is a loss to Welsh rugby. Our hearts go
:07:32. > :07:37.out to his family and friends. It has been noted this week. It will
:07:37. > :07:47.be one of the reasons that it will spur them on today. De sit add to
:07:47. > :07:51.the motivation? -- does it? It is affecting. Losing someone who was
:07:51. > :07:57.one of the best of his generation. The players recognise that. That
:07:57. > :08:02.will be in the back of their minds. It is about performing today.
:08:02. > :08:08.fans talk about revenge. We're have not spoken about it. You have to
:08:08. > :08:13.put those things past you. You have to put it in the back of your minds.
:08:13. > :08:19.They remember Eden Park and the disappointment of the sending off.
:08:19. > :08:24.You have to move on. We felt we has done that. We have a chance.
:08:24. > :08:29.have old heads in the squad and a lot of young men. It will be a day
:08:29. > :08:36.of destiny. Can they manage the expectation? We will find out after
:08:36. > :08:40.80 minutes. You are given moments in your career and you want to
:08:40. > :08:47.seize them. This is something no one can take away from you. You can
:08:47. > :08:52.say after today you were part of a great Grand Slam team. You come on
:08:52. > :08:58.the bus and you see the crowd. It puts the hairs on the back of your
:08:58. > :09:02.neck up. You cannot get more motivation and turning up today at
:09:02. > :09:07.a full Millennium Stadium. They keep saying a lot of young players
:09:07. > :09:12.in the side. How much will this match be won in ahead? They have
:09:12. > :09:21.shown maturity and composure in the tournament. It will be difficult
:09:21. > :09:26.for them. They have played most of the rugby in good conditions. What
:09:26. > :09:32.they will do is kick and chase a lot, try to take them up front, but
:09:32. > :09:37.if Wales can win the set piece, it will give them a platform. If that
:09:37. > :09:43.happens and Wales start well, I think we will win. I think we are
:09:43. > :09:48.good enough to win today. Forget the head, it is out there and doing
:09:48. > :09:53.the right thing at the right time. What is the possibility. In the
:09:53. > :09:58.World Cup, the French were also the place and outstanding in the final.
:09:58. > :10:03.What is the possibility of the real French team turning up? We had
:10:03. > :10:08.nothing to lose in that game, so that is a good point. We came into
:10:08. > :10:16.the tournament to have answers and we have more questions than before.
:10:16. > :10:23.We cannot produce passes. Our defences in a bad condition. And we
:10:23. > :10:26.come here, and we do not know where to go. These are the 15 starters
:10:26. > :10:30.to go. These are the 15 starters who are hoping to book their places
:10:30. > :10:40.who are hoping to book their places in the history books. A very
:10:40. > :10:40.
:10:40. > :10:50.experienced French row. Adam Jones is crucial to Wales. Ian Evans has
:10:50. > :11:05.
:11:05. > :11:11.played exceptionally well. Sam game in difficult conditions. He's
:11:11. > :11:17.too, as well, we expect a lot of ball-carrying. A few dummy runners
:11:17. > :11:25.as well to bring Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Alex Cuthbert into
:11:25. > :11:31.the game. In that golden era of the 1970s, it did seem that the Welsh
:11:31. > :11:37.Grand Slam team was the same week- in, week-out. You can see from the
:11:37. > :11:47.2005 Grand Slam team, there are only going to be two names from
:11:47. > :11:55.
:11:55. > :12:03.that starting line-up. It is time Especially as captain, you talk a
:12:03. > :12:13.lot more. I tend to talk a lot in defence, just to keep the boys on
:12:13. > :12:18.
:12:18. > :12:25.their toes. I think he is a once in a generation type of player. You
:12:25. > :12:33.don't want to see a prop to what he does on the field. He is going to
:12:33. > :12:41.score! Can you believe it, from a prop? He has been outstanding for
:12:41. > :12:47.years now. He is a world-class tight-head prop Angie won't find
:12:47. > :12:57.many props who have got one over on him. When he doesn't play, we do
:12:57. > :13:03.
:13:03. > :13:09.struggle. We can give each other when we started to, then we got to
:13:10. > :13:16.know each other. He used to love me when we did three kilometres runs.
:13:16. > :13:21.He used to tap me on the backside and say, come on! Not in a nice
:13:21. > :13:27.way! A I did used to give him a friendly tap on the way round. I
:13:27. > :13:33.don't think I loved him too many times. He knows more about the dark
:13:33. > :13:43.arts than me. As a tight-head, that is where he earns his bread and
:13:43. > :13:43.
:13:43. > :13:48.butter. I seve my scrummaging asthma primary job, it is a
:13:48. > :13:53.secondary thing for him. I was told by a French supporter this week
:13:53. > :13:59.that all I'm going to be doing next year his scrummaging. I do really
:13:59. > :14:06.enjoy it. The other parts of the game might be more enjoyable. We
:14:06. > :14:10.always wind each other up before the game. I always tell him that he
:14:10. > :14:16.might not be playing and have a rest. I missed the game at
:14:17. > :14:23.Christmas, had a chest infection. He is not the easiest player to
:14:23. > :14:33.play against. The last three or four times replayed Cardiff, I have
:14:33. > :14:34.
:14:34. > :14:39.got the nudge on him, so I will take that over the fitness any day!
:14:39. > :14:46.The Millennium Stadium, be it in sunshine. Everybody is singing
:14:46. > :14:52.Delilah. I gather Tom Jones is here. I wonder if he is joining in? Those
:14:52. > :14:57.two guys have been bastions of the Welsh team. Anybody he was watching
:14:57. > :15:03.the match before, you can see how getting control in the front row is
:15:03. > :15:08.so essential. Those two guys have got an important role to play today.
:15:08. > :15:12.It is interesting that we always talk that the game starts at the
:15:12. > :15:19.front and that determines how the tax will play. Those to have been
:15:19. > :15:25.around for an eternity, but they seem to be improving with maturity.
:15:25. > :15:29.Adam Jones has to do so much work, particularly against the French. It
:15:29. > :15:34.is quite a macho thing, we need to win the scrummage were the rest
:15:34. > :15:44.will fall to bits. It will be an interesting confrontation. This is
:15:44. > :15:56.
:15:56. > :16:04.the last game for William Servat. Pascal Pape takes the lead after at
:16:04. > :16:11.the retirements of the old captain. The diamond of the team is this
:16:11. > :16:18.back row. Thierry Dusautoir is an incredible tackler. This is the
:16:18. > :16:23.last game for Julian Bonnaire. We had a lack of leaders and Dimitri
:16:23. > :16:28.Yachvili came on to bring something different in the last game. Lie
:16:28. > :16:37.Lionel Beauxis will have to play better. In the centre as we went
:16:37. > :16:44.from speed to power. Florian Fritz came on to bring more power. We put
:16:44. > :16:54.the speedy guys on the wing. Wesley Fofana broke the line many times.
:16:54. > :16:57.
:16:57. > :17:01.Clement Poitrenaud will be the key Welcome to Cardiff. 250,000 Welsh
:17:01. > :17:10.men and women are out on the streets. Some party you will spoil
:17:10. > :17:17.if you win today! We are not playing against the Welsh team, but
:17:17. > :17:27.the whole country! We know it will be hard, but we full play for our
:17:27. > :17:27.
:17:27. > :17:32.pride. We will give 100 % this afternoon. 4G believes that you're
:17:32. > :17:40.tight five is coming to believe them today. Is that the game plan?
:17:40. > :17:44.No, we're just coming to play the game. One interception against
:17:44. > :17:54.Ireland, two turnovers against England's and we'd lost and treat
:17:54. > :17:55.
:17:55. > :17:59.the game. We know that Wales are very confident team. I have a lot
:18:00. > :18:07.of English friends who want us to win today because that means they
:18:07. > :18:11.can still win! Five months ago Wales were beaten by France in the
:18:11. > :18:21.World Cup. Are you players aware that there is a mission to exact
:18:21. > :18:27.
:18:27. > :18:31.revenge? Yes, from the semi-final of the World Cup. We have played
:18:31. > :18:36.consecutive weeks and the Welsh have had a week off from us so
:18:36. > :18:43.there are many things in this game. We will see after the game!
:18:43. > :18:48.stadium has gone a bit quiet after so much noise in the last 15
:18:48. > :18:53.minutes! If you're down in the changing rooms, Shane Williams, can
:18:53. > :19:01.you hear all this? The guys have come out and had their warm-up and
:19:01. > :19:04.would have felt the atmosphere. You can hear all this from the changing
:19:04. > :19:10.room. You know exactly what is going to happen as soon as you step
:19:10. > :19:20.out here. The nerves will really be kicking in now. They are pumping up
:19:20. > :19:23.
:19:23. > :19:27.the volume as you can hear behind Wales is in a Grand Slam frenzy.
:19:27. > :19:32.Who better to know what is going through their minds than this man?
:19:32. > :19:37.The players are looking very focused. The players were just want
:19:37. > :19:42.to get out and get on the pitch and do what they do best and focus on a
:19:42. > :19:47.game of rugby. They have got to switch off from the summer sphere
:19:47. > :19:53.and concentrate. Greasy conditions, all that play into the hands of the
:19:53. > :19:57.French? Maybe a little bit. The boys will not be worried about the
:19:57. > :20:07.conditions. If they do their job properly, the result will be in no
:20:07. > :20:08.
:20:08. > :20:18.doubt. Here come the team's, and here comes the Grand Slam decider,
:20:18. > :20:47.
:20:47. > :20:52.The Shane Williams, you have lived true this as a player, how
:20:52. > :20:58.different is it being on the touchline? I am just as nervous
:20:58. > :21:02.today, to be honest! It is a different atmosphere. A lot of
:21:02. > :21:08.these guys playing today will never have encountered this kind of
:21:08. > :21:13.atmosphere, so it will be incredible. These players will not
:21:13. > :21:18.know what is about to hit them! Jeremy Guscott, do you expect this
:21:18. > :21:22.to be a spectacle, or is there too much at stake? I think the
:21:22. > :21:27.conditions and the French team that has been picked means it will be a
:21:27. > :21:33.conservative game. Wales will have learned from the England game, play
:21:33. > :21:40.territory, make the opposition make their mistakes. How will the French
:21:40. > :21:44.win? If we win by the smallest margin, we will accept that. Many
:21:44. > :21:52.questions have to be answered and maybe today's the day for that to
:21:52. > :21:58.happen. No words necessary for this! A Welsh team are waiting in
:21:58. > :22:08.the tunnel about 30 yards away from us. They will here the noise all
:22:08. > :22:17.around the country and beyond. The expectation is huge. The noise is
:22:17. > :22:27.mounting amounting to a crescendo. -- Mounting and mounting. These are
:22:27. > :22:48.
:22:48. > :22:53.the men that have Welsh rugby Wales are led out by 4G, winning
:22:53. > :22:59.his 50th cap. It is fascinating when you consider that all the
:22:59. > :23:09.matches that these countries have played together, 89 matches, 42
:23:09. > :23:21.
:23:21. > :23:28.Before we have the anthems, Wales and New Zealand are united today in
:23:28. > :23:34.a loss of two of their sporting heroes, Jack Hobbs and Merv the
:23:34. > :23:44.Swerve. A moment's reflection on two of the finest players ever to
:23:44. > :23:44.
:23:44. > :25:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:25:06. > :25:12.Police than to observe a minute's Now it is time to get down to
:25:12. > :25:18.business. After the anthems, commentary from Jonathan Davies and
:25:18. > :25:27.# Allons enfants de la Patrie. # Le jour de gloire est arrive!
:25:27. > :25:35.# Contre nous de la tyrannie. # L'etendard sanglant est leve.
:25:35. > :25:44.# L'etendard sanglant est leve! # Entendez-vous dans les campagnes.
:25:44. > :25:49.# Mugir ces feroces soldats. # Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras.
:25:49. > :25:57.# Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes!
:25:57. > :26:06.# Aux armes, citoyens. # Formez vos bataillons.
:26:06. > :26:16.# Marchons, marchons! # Qu'un sang impur.
:26:16. > :26:34.
:26:34. > :26:44.# Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi.
:26:44. > :26:44.
:26:44. > :26:54.# Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri.
:26:54. > :26:55.
:26:55. > :27:05.# Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad.
:27:05. > :27:12.
:27:12. > :27:22.# Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed. # Gwlad, gwlad.
:27:22. > :27:31.
:27:31. > :27:41.# Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad. # Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau.
:27:41. > :27:41.
:27:41. > :28:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:28:25. > :28:35.This stage is cleared on Grand Slam France come to Cardiff, Wales have
:28:35. > :28:35.
:28:35. > :28:43.been preparing for a physical onslaught all week. We talk about a
:28:43. > :28:49.young Welsh team, Wales have experience to. Their front row are
:28:49. > :28:59.all over 30 years. Past experience from Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees
:28:59. > :29:05.and Adam Jones. A 50th cap today for Matthew Rees. And 80th cap for
:29:06. > :29:10.tight-head prop Adam Jones. Aurelian Rougerie, one of the
:29:10. > :29:15.veterans of the French three- quarter line, Gethin Jenkins,
:29:15. > :29:19.loose-head for Wales, captain in the last game. Dimitri Yachvili
:29:19. > :29:29.restored to France today and scrum- half Adam Jones, the cornerstone of
:29:29. > :29:36.
:29:36. > :29:41.extraordinary in the back row. Jonathan, good afternoon. Good
:29:41. > :29:51.afternoon. Well, the heavens opened and it is very slippery. It will
:29:51. > :29:52.
:29:52. > :29:59.not be pretty. The referee today is Craig Joubert. He is last seen
:29:59. > :30:09.refereeing France in the World Cup final. The RBS Six Nations showdown
:30:09. > :30:09.
:30:09. > :30:57.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:30:57. > :31:07.is under way at the Millennium kicking game. The roof is open, it
:31:07. > :31:45.
:31:45. > :31:50.is exactly what the French team player carrying it is in touch?
:31:50. > :31:59.did exceptionally well not to get into touch. No pressure on Lionel
:31:59. > :32:09.Beauxis or Yachvili. There we go. Two minutes gone. Wales on the
:32:09. > :32:09.
:32:09. > :33:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:33:14. > :33:22.there was the lovely miss-pass. A air? Play on, says the referee. And
:33:22. > :33:32.France the nurse themselves into the Welsh half. He started well,
:33:32. > :33:39.
:33:39. > :33:43.could have been a penalty for France. He was going for the ball.
:33:43. > :33:53.Most of the time, as soon as someone touches someone in the air,
:33:53. > :34:20.
:34:20. > :34:28.you usually see a penalty so Wales very well played. It was not a ruck
:34:28. > :34:33.formed so he could make the tackle on Mike Phillips and held him up.
:34:33. > :34:38.France have reinforced their pack. Every one of the French pack is
:34:38. > :34:48.over 30, apart from the second row, Yoann Maestri. Only the Welsh front
:34:48. > :35:27.
:35:27. > :35:37.Defensive line speed by France. And they are not committing anyone to
:35:37. > :35:38.
:35:38. > :35:48.the rucks at the moment. Wales have knocked on. Another advantage to
:35:48. > :36:13.
:36:13. > :36:17.France being played. And they will Rougerie. If that Paul had just
:36:17. > :36:27.holed up in the field of play, that would have been very, very
:36:27. > :36:27.
:36:27. > :37:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:37:42. > :37:48.interesting but good vision by Rhys France are quite happy to slow the
:37:48. > :37:58.rhythm of the game down. That is what they have done in the
:37:58. > :38:18.
:38:18. > :38:27.tournament, come on the counter errors. But the heavens did open
:38:27. > :38:37.just before kick-off so it is a very slippery surface. Just watched
:38:37. > :39:06.
:39:06. > :39:16.ground, get up on the feet and play it. Unfortunately, that is a French
:39:16. > :39:16.
:39:16. > :39:21.penalty. France's best position of the game so far. The willingness of
:39:21. > :39:24.France to slow it all down, Wales trying to give it real momentum.
:39:24. > :39:30.That is what they have done throughout the tournament. They
:39:30. > :39:37.have sat back, then they have counter-attacked and scored tries.
:39:37. > :39:41.We know they are capable of doing it. Lionel Beauxis's kicking put
:39:41. > :39:51.him in these positions. Now they will try and bring the centres into
:39:51. > :39:51.
:39:51. > :40:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:40:34. > :40:39.will do that a lot, very difficult who had to release? It is very,
:40:39. > :40:43.very difficult for these players at the tackle area, but they have got
:40:43. > :40:49.to listen to the referee. Irrespective if they think they're
:40:49. > :40:59.in the right, it is only one man who makes that decision and today
:40:59. > :41:02.
:41:02. > :41:12.it is Craig Joubert, so listen to what he says. Dimitri Yachvili! In
:41:12. > :41:12.
:41:12. > :42:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:42:22. > :42:29.one of the few times in to the Jimmy Roberts. Pressure from Wales.
:42:29. > :42:38.-- Jaime Roberts. Jamie Roberts coming into play almost for the
:42:39. > :42:48.first time. Expertly placed and 4G now with the chance to find, who?
:42:49. > :42:49.
:42:49. > :44:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:44:01. > :44:05.Alun Wyn Jones? It is Toby Faletau rollaway. They are blitzing
:44:05. > :44:10.sometimes through the phases, and then there are also doing did drift
:44:10. > :44:17.defence from set-piece, or when they are short, which is very, very
:44:17. > :44:27.good. There is Dimitri Yachvili, number nine, not getting away from
:44:27. > :44:27.
:44:27. > :44:32.the ball. Very good defence. Just watch Dimitri Yachvili coming in
:44:33. > :44:37.from the outside very, very quickly. They are playing a drift defence,
:44:37. > :44:41.but they vary it very, very well. Not many players are being
:44:42. > :44:46.committed to the ruck, so it will be extremely difficult for the
:44:46. > :44:56.Welsh to break them down unless they get very, very quick ball.
:44:56. > :44:58.
:44:59. > :45:04.They are managing to slow everything down. Leigh Halfpenny.
:45:04. > :45:12.There is plenty of light and not far side, the clouds have been
:45:12. > :45:22.lifted for the moment. Sorry, it is Rhys Priestland with the kicking
:45:22. > :45:35.
:45:35. > :45:43.rebound, Dimitri Yachvili with the clearance. We will, I could strike,
:45:43. > :45:48.but very unfortunate. He has started well in open play, put in a
:45:48. > :45:58.few lovely passes, so his confidence will be OK. As a goal
:45:58. > :45:58.
:45:58. > :46:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:46:40. > :46:46.Good call. Here is a big hit. Again, the ball is slow. Good tackle. At
:46:46. > :46:51.the moment, the French defence is coping very, very well and soaking
:46:51. > :47:01.everything up. They will be quite happy. The Welsh have not
:47:01. > :47:21.
:47:21. > :47:31.threatened yet. Gethin Jenkins referee says he did everything he
:47:31. > :47:47.
:47:47. > :47:57.earning them the pit in at the scrum. -- the put in. He did
:47:57. > :48:07.
:48:07. > :48:14.everything he could, but he was have come to Cardiff today are in
:48:14. > :48:20.the ground, and that is 75,000! have walked through Cardiff and it
:48:20. > :48:30.is absolutely crazy today! That was against Gethin Jenkins on the
:48:30. > :48:43.
:48:43. > :48:49.Servat. He has just got to stand there, though. If you stood were he
:48:49. > :48:57.was, he would not have get -- would not have got in the way. New
:48:57. > :49:06.Zealand are fantastic at that, just being in the way. Loitering, lazy
:49:06. > :49:11.runners. The one statistic that is crucial is the one on the
:49:12. > :49:21.scoreboard, and here they are again. They will look for a catch and
:49:22. > :49:55.
:49:55. > :50:01.That was very, very well worked. If he had managed to get the pass
:50:01. > :50:11.away... very, very well played by France. As soon as they went
:50:11. > :50:19.
:50:19. > :50:25.forward, and noticeable difference That was a good measure of ground
:50:25. > :50:35.for them from the relieving kick. Philippe Saint-Andre looks down,
:50:35. > :51:10.
:51:10. > :51:14.going to score! Turnover ball and Wales strike against France! One a
:51:14. > :51:18.magnificent finish by Alex Cuthbert! Turnover ball and that is
:51:18. > :51:27.what you have to do, you have to put the ball through their hands
:51:27. > :51:35.when you turn the ball over. What a magnificent finish! Here is the
:51:35. > :51:44.impact of Dan Lydiate. He makes the tackle on Thierry Dusautoir. It is
:51:44. > :51:54.a lovely ball, the ankle. What a great finish that these! -- the
:51:54. > :52:26.
:52:26. > :52:36.Servat was just caught on the blind side. They all push across and he
:52:36. > :53:13.
:53:13. > :53:21.warning there, but they remained around. I want to say Get Well Soon
:53:21. > :53:31.to my dad who had a little stroke. He is in hospital. Get well soon,
:53:31. > :53:54.
:53:54. > :54:01.dad. From us all. This core has down that very well organised
:54:01. > :54:11.French defence. It came from a fantastic combination, Dan Lydiate
:54:11. > :54:11.
:54:11. > :55:06.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:55:06. > :55:16.French in the World Cup final, has not played in the Six Nations.
:55:16. > :55:16.
:55:16. > :56:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:56:09. > :56:19.messing, fires it down to his pass. This is better for Wales.
:56:19. > :56:32.
:56:32. > :56:42.Lionel Beauxis came in with the defence behind the French. Are to
:56:42. > :57:08.
:57:08. > :57:17.be top weight on it. -- put a bit middle. Danger here. The pass
:57:17. > :57:20.misses everybody from Harinordoquy. Usually seeing the French place of
:57:20. > :57:25.magnificent rugby but in this tournament, their handling skills
:57:25. > :57:31.have not been of the highest order. I don't know what they are trying
:57:31. > :57:41.to do. They are lacking in skills, just to make the most of
:57:41. > :57:41.
:57:41. > :58:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:58:23. > :58:29.have got themselves in a bit of a pickle. They have done ever so well
:58:29. > :58:37.to gather the ball back. Mike Phillips in danger. He looked up at
:58:37. > :58:47.just the wrong moment. A sticky few seconds for Wales. The only good
:58:47. > :59:01.
:59:02. > :59:11.chance of going wide. They have to kick. Priestland high towards the
:59:12. > :59:13.
:59:13. > :59:18.touchline. I'm just wondering whose ball at will be? Free-kick worked.
:59:18. > :59:24.Bypassing didn't but the kick has given Wales the put-in. It is
:59:24. > :59:31.pretty hectic up here, what is it like at ground level? There is a
:59:31. > :59:40.great atmosphere down here. For me at the moment, Mike Phillips and
:59:40. > :59:47.Rhys Priestland, and Wales are playing in the right areas. A great
:59:47. > :59:52.start for us. The majority of the game is in the French half. Martyn
:59:52. > :00:02.Williams who had a bit of a game himself one Wales won the Grand
:00:02. > :00:07.Slam against France in 2008. Yachvili made a nuisance of himself.
:00:07. > :00:17.Mike Phillips under certain pressure from Yachvili. Yachvili is
:00:17. > :00:18.
:00:18. > :00:25.a great scavenger and nuisance. France to have the put-in and
:00:25. > :00:35.Yachvili will feed. The Yachvili gets his foot in, forces the knock-
:00:35. > :01:06.
:01:06. > :01:14.Jonathan Davies. He spots the move, he goes in. Lionel Beauxis tries to
:01:14. > :01:20.get the pass away, hits his chest. Just watch. He knew the runaround
:01:20. > :01:26.was on, read the play well. He has carried the ball exceptionally well,
:01:26. > :01:36.defended well. And there he is. Jonathan Davies lets annexes
:01:36. > :01:36.
:01:36. > :02:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:02:34. > :02:41.Palisson get back on his feet. -- game is good. They are winning the
:02:41. > :02:46.kicking game. Lionel Beauxis is the only kicker whereas you have Leigh
:02:46. > :02:56.Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, it gives you options. They are now
:02:56. > :03:21.
:03:21. > :03:30.turning the pressure into points. attracting back for the kick. --
:03:30. > :03:37.tracking back. Play on. George does not believe it. It would be
:03:37. > :03:47.interesting to see that again. Well-taken. A beautiful catch by
:03:47. > :04:20.
:04:21. > :04:30.Well taken by the wing. Now they pressure. France have got nobody
:04:31. > :04:31.
:04:31. > :05:11.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:05:11. > :05:20.back apart from Clement pack are no it?! Rougerie B claims the ball.
:05:20. > :05:26.Not so monotonous now for France. Leigh Halfpenny had it safely
:05:26. > :05:36.covered. Under five minutes to go until half-time. France on the
:05:36. > :05:53.
:05:53. > :05:58.attack. Thick kicking game has right. They had numbers to go.
:05:59. > :06:04.Unfortunately, execution was not good. It has been an absorbing 36
:06:04. > :06:14.minutes. Wales making one turnover count and that has been the
:06:14. > :06:24.
:06:24. > :06:29.difference. Aurelian Rougerie, his think he has got to be up there as
:06:29. > :06:36.the favourite for the player of the tournament, the RBS Six Nations
:06:36. > :06:46.player of the tournament. Dan Lydiate has been immense. Front
:06:46. > :06:57.
:06:57. > :07:03.Excellent defensive work. Two mauls and Wales get a penalty from the
:07:03. > :07:09.one that counted. Your nine cannot pull out of a maul and then
:07:09. > :07:19.collapse. Yachvili, once again pulling out of the maul and then
:07:19. > :07:38.
:07:38. > :07:48.collapsing it. He has given away a Wales will settle for this. It is
:07:48. > :07:48.
:07:48. > :08:52.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:08:52. > :09:02.their throw. That is the ten-metre turnover ball at the line-out for
:09:02. > :09:02.
:09:02. > :09:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:09:45. > :09:55.quick ball they want. Not so quick. Matthew Rees has his hands on the
:09:55. > :10:23.
:10:23. > :10:33.ball. Penalty advantage to Wales. I have seen it -- I have seen him
:10:33. > :10:41.
:10:41. > :10:45.do it on numerous occasions for the goal in 10 points in front. Here is
:10:45. > :10:50.Dimitri Yachvili. He missed a couple of games with back trouble.
:10:50. > :10:56.He has been involved in absolutely everything, a lot of it on the
:10:56. > :11:00.negative side. He will cements last week for Biarritz and forced his
:11:00. > :11:10.way into the side. He is so composed and has time on the ball
:11:10. > :11:22.
:11:22. > :11:32.every time. He is not having his reassuring sight for Wales.
:11:32. > :11:52.
:11:52. > :11:59.don't give him the commentators Roberts! That will be half-time.
:11:59. > :12:04.Half-time at the Millennium Stadium. A an absorbing first half. Wales
:12:04. > :12:08.are playing magnificently. Their territorial game has been spot on.
:12:08. > :12:14.They have turned their pressure into points and putting width on
:12:15. > :12:24.the turnover for that crucial try. Very good first half for Wales. You
:12:25. > :12:32.
:12:32. > :12:39.would expect France to try and play emotion before the kick-off was
:12:39. > :12:46.absolutely huge. Rhys Priestland had a kick at goal early on and it
:12:46. > :12:50.hit the post. Alex Cuthbert, what a magnificent finish that was. That
:12:50. > :13:00.is the difference between the sides at the moment. The game has been
:13:00. > :13:15.
:13:15. > :13:23.repeatedly? Absorbing. It is What a Six Nations game! Intensity,
:13:23. > :13:27.physicality. Some of their hits going in are unbelievable. Wales
:13:27. > :13:33.are in control, great field position. We have got so much
:13:33. > :13:38.cutting edge, that is the difference. Last week, Wales got
:13:38. > :13:43.into the 22 and did not come away with the points. This time they are.
:13:43. > :13:51.Yes, fantastic try by Alex Cuthbert. France are trying to slow
:13:51. > :13:59.everything down, but when it is broken up Wales are very dangerous.
:13:59. > :14:03.At the moment, Dan Lydiate is the man of the match. He has got to be
:14:03. > :14:13.up there for Player of the tournament. The work around the
:14:13. > :14:42.
:14:42. > :14:52.Shane Williams, you're a bit nervous! You can see that, can you?
:14:52. > :14:57.Wales started off playing well, but not really getting anywhere. What
:14:57. > :15:03.they need to do is just keep kicking the ball, playing to rugby
:15:03. > :15:08.in France's half, because they have got all their points from that. The
:15:09. > :15:14.need to keep doing that. What do you make of all the kicking?
:15:14. > :15:19.don't really recognise the French team. We get rid of the ball most
:15:19. > :15:25.of the time. We did start the game better than in previous games, but
:15:25. > :15:29.I think they need to play a bit more. When they do play, they get
:15:29. > :15:35.opportunities but if they keep on playing like that, we have no
:15:35. > :15:41.chance. The French insisted on the roof being open. In the first 10
:15:41. > :15:46.minutes there was a catalogue of efforts -- a catalogue of mistakes.
:15:46. > :15:50.It rained about 45 minutes before kick-off, so you couldn't really
:15:51. > :15:56.expect anything else. Imanol Harinordoquy is normally safe under
:15:57. > :16:02.the high ball. The ball is like a bar of soap. Even Dimitri Yachvili
:16:02. > :16:06.can't control the ball. It adds to the frustration. That is why you
:16:06. > :16:16.need a simple game plan, so I thought it would play into the
:16:16. > :16:17.
:16:17. > :16:22.French's hands. Just played the territory. Wales were doing the
:16:22. > :16:28.right things at the right time. will be hard to chase the game with
:16:28. > :16:38.the conditions. The French defence has been immense. It has been much
:16:38. > :16:44.
:16:44. > :16:51.better, much better organised. The Welsh game can be a bit predictable.
:16:51. > :16:55.On the one on one tackle, we have been good. I think the French have
:16:55. > :17:01.studied were Rhys Priestland is likely to stand. He stands very
:17:01. > :17:05.deep. He has a long way to go to get to the gain line. That is great
:17:05. > :17:12.defence. In the first 20 minutes there was a lot of pressure from
:17:12. > :17:18.the French. Rhys Priestland didn't have a great game against the
:17:18. > :17:27.English. It has taken him 25 minutes to get his foot in in this
:17:27. > :17:33.game. Many people will be remembering Mervyn Davies today.
:17:33. > :17:38.And that you are, you remember the French and how inspirational they
:17:38. > :17:43.were. A lot of people won't recognise this as a French team.
:17:43. > :17:47.think we have lost a bit of confidence. It is the four words
:17:47. > :17:52.you're having to do the work. I think William Servat should have
:17:53. > :18:00.passed the ball there, he was a bit greedy. We should have scored.
:18:00. > :18:08.Welsh try. You and Alex Cuthbert share a lot of things, mostly that
:18:08. > :18:16.you both play on the wing! The he has played so well. For a finish
:18:16. > :18:26.was incredible, to be fair. He is a huge man. He had a lot of work to
:18:26. > :18:26.
:18:26. > :18:32.do, to be fair. Inside Julian Bonnaire. He has had to come off
:18:32. > :18:39.his boots Price. A great finish. Look how flat Rhys Priestland is.
:18:39. > :18:44.You have got the overlap there. There are three forwards in that
:18:45. > :18:53.defence line. He has still got to beat Clement Poitrenaud and you
:18:54. > :19:01.just beaten down. Alun Wyn Jones is a bit lucky there as he went down
:19:01. > :19:05.on his knee, but he got away with it. Once or twice the Welsh had
:19:05. > :19:11.turnovers and they did not play quick ball and they did not get the
:19:11. > :19:16.overlap. The basics of the game are so important, and the Welsh line-
:19:16. > :19:21.out has been a cause for concern. Today the variety of it has been
:19:21. > :19:30.fantastic. There is seen to be doing well in this area, after last
:19:30. > :19:38.week. All you have to do is get some clean ball to the backs. It is
:19:38. > :19:43.about getting a safe ball and getting to play off it. They are so
:19:43. > :19:52.confident that they have gone to different areas in the line-out.
:19:52. > :19:57.With England's you know it is going to Tom Croft eight out of 10 times.
:19:57. > :20:02.It is great the fact that the line- out has not been going well, but
:20:02. > :20:08.they still have the confidence to go to the back. You could even pick
:20:08. > :20:13.the winners in the line-out because they're so tall. Sam Warburton has
:20:13. > :20:19.been working very hard to get fit for this game, it is such a big
:20:19. > :20:28.game for him but he is off for a shoulder injury -- all for a
:20:28. > :20:34.shoulder injury. He will be replaced by Ryan Jones.
:20:34. > :20:39.We are exactly halfway through this final day of the RBS Six Nations.
:20:39. > :20:46.England against Ireland to come at 5 o'clock. The day began in Rome.
:20:46. > :20:52.Beautiful sunshine there. It was in the mid-70s there! This single try
:20:52. > :21:02.was enough to give Italy victory. The Scottish were not helped by
:21:02. > :21:08.
:21:08. > :21:18.eight to sin-bins, it neither of this year. What does the future
:21:18. > :21:23.
:21:23. > :21:27.We put in so much work, but we have missed out at times. In the last
:21:27. > :21:32.two games we have not been up to the standards that we were in the
:21:32. > :21:37.first three games. That is the disappointment for us. Am sure
:21:38. > :21:45.there will be a lot of conjecture about the future of Andy Robinson.
:21:45. > :21:48.England against Ireland is at 5 o'clock, and if France were to find
:21:48. > :21:54.something to amend the one here at the Millennium Stadium and England
:21:54. > :22:03.beat Ireland by a bucket load of points, the championship good --
:22:03. > :22:09.the championship could go to Twickenham, but that looks unlikely.
:22:09. > :22:19.I would love to go to the relay races at the Olympics. I am getting
:22:19. > :22:28.into the archery at the moment. wrestling! Beach volleyball. Beach
:22:29. > :22:33.volleyball. I have tickets for the beach volleyball! It would be the
:22:33. > :22:43.100 metres. It is fantastic watching those guys, how explosive
:22:43. > :22:44.
:22:44. > :22:50.they are. I will be watching it on the television.
:22:50. > :22:55.The French are out there. The French were the losers to get the
:22:55. > :23:01.Olympics in 2012, will they be the losers today? What to Wales have to
:23:01. > :23:11.do today? Just finish as they did in the first half. Just played the
:23:11. > :23:16.territory. Kick the ball back to the French, compete in the air, get
:23:16. > :23:21.the line-outs and see what they can do from that. Thomas, we see all
:23:21. > :23:29.these players and if you put those names down you would say, what a
:23:29. > :23:35.fantastic team! How is this French team not be able to perform in the
:23:35. > :23:41.manner we expect them to? And how they play for their clubs! They
:23:42. > :23:51.play quality rugby. I don't understand why. Maybe something
:23:52. > :24:01.will click for us today. Somewhere in Wales there is a man halfway
:24:01. > :24:07.through writing Welsh grand-slam 2012 on a 1000 T-shirts. Don't do
:24:07. > :24:13.it just yet! I don't think the Welsh can blow this. I don't want
:24:13. > :24:18.to put the jinx on them, but they seemed so confident, so direct.
:24:19. > :24:24.conservative? Yes, but played the right rugby. You have to learn how
:24:24. > :24:34.to close down again and this is part of their learning process.
:24:34. > :24:52.
:24:52. > :24:59.captain as Sam Warburton is not playing. Ryan Jones is playing in
:25:00. > :25:03.the back row. I think France might look at this and think if we put a
:25:03. > :25:08.bit of width on it and bring Thierry Dusautoir and the back line
:25:08. > :25:18.into the game. Let's see if they do spread it a little bit. If they
:25:18. > :25:36.
:25:36. > :25:46.don't change their tactics I can tackle. Good play from Jonathan
:25:46. > :26:01.
:26:01. > :26:11.Davies. The new man, Ryan Jones. Clement Poitrenaud at the end of
:26:11. > :26:35.
:26:35. > :26:45.Priestland drop goal, another one that does not get off the ground or
:26:45. > :26:46.
:26:46. > :26:51.near the posts. He was isolated so he had not many options there.
:26:51. > :27:00.Priestland will have struck the ball clean out. Meanwhile, Aurelian
:27:00. > :27:10.Rougerie, France's centre, is having attention to his shoulder.
:27:10. > :27:36.
:27:36. > :27:41.lovely break again by Cuthbert. He Advantage, France. That is the
:27:41. > :27:51.danger of leading by only seven points. A breakaway by France and
:27:51. > :28:00.
:28:00. > :28:10.the scores are level. Yes, very lovely kick and there is the
:28:10. > :28:12.
:28:12. > :28:17.offside. Halfpenny plays the ball. Leigh Halfpenny touches the ball.
:28:17. > :28:23.And Gethin Jenkins, he has gone. There is holding the ball on the
:28:23. > :28:31.floor. He thinks, if I have made the effort to get back here, you're
:28:31. > :28:41.not getting it! He reads the game very well. He puts himself in that
:28:41. > :28:41.
:28:41. > :28:51.position. As Lionel Beauxis it lines up the kick, France are
:28:51. > :29:05.
:29:05. > :29:11.a four. Game now. -- a four point game. They just seemed satisfied to
:29:11. > :29:19.come up and take the point. A quick farewell to William Servat. That is
:29:19. > :29:23.his last appearance for France. He retires from the international game.
:29:23. > :29:33.Julien Bonnaire will also call it a day after this match. He is still
:29:33. > :29:50.
:29:50. > :30:00.does not recognise the way they play. They seem happy to absorb
:30:00. > :30:00.
:30:00. > :30:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:30:40. > :30:46.everything and then when they have Fofana. France did well to get back
:30:46. > :30:53.their with their -- their winner. It is George North who has been
:30:53. > :31:03.penalised for not rolling away. was very difficult for George not
:31:03. > :31:33.
:31:33. > :31:43.to rollaway. A great take for scored the only points of this
:31:43. > :31:57.
:31:58. > :32:05.second half. France have some up. So negative. A great line-up,
:32:05. > :32:10.they hit midfield, why doesn't it go through the phases again. They
:32:10. > :32:20.look very, very dangerous. The negative attitude will get in the
:32:20. > :32:20.
:32:20. > :33:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:33:16. > :33:24.France. A good tackle. He has gone goes back into his 22. Cuthbert
:33:24. > :33:34.arrives. Palisson did very well there. He has caught Alex Cuthbert.
:33:34. > :34:07.
:34:07. > :34:16.He has caught in there. A cold me 30 seconds without a pass!
:34:16. > :34:20.Breathe deeply. Cold sponge. Put turnover there was an opportunity,
:34:20. > :34:30.in a game as tight as this, turnover there could have gone
:34:30. > :35:06.
:35:06. > :35:11.right again. Wales lose the line- tackle. Alexis Palisson is in
:35:11. > :35:21.trouble. France have stolen the ball. Phillips caught in possession
:35:21. > :35:58.
:35:59. > :36:07.in this second half. Gethin Jenkins work is rewarded. A sensational run
:36:07. > :36:17.by Dan Lydiate. Bodies strewn all over the field. Opportunities for
:36:17. > :36:28.
:36:28. > :36:37.both sides. Dan Lydiate have had an Faletau. If it is not Faletau, it
:36:37. > :36:46.is Warburton. A great tackle by Dusautoir. That is how to tackle.
:36:46. > :36:56.Great technique, great technique. This would raise the roof if it was
:36:56. > :37:06.
:37:06. > :37:16.closed. What a pair of sixes on the Palisson is going off in the
:37:16. > :37:55.
:37:55. > :38:05.another 10 yards. That is the reaction. That is why he practises
:38:05. > :38:05.
:38:05. > :38:15.so much. Francois Tran Duc has come on for France. -- Francois Trinh-
:38:15. > :38:26.
:38:26. > :38:36.Wales. Scott Williams, his Scarlets team mate is on. He scored against
:38:36. > :38:36.
:38:36. > :39:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:39:23. > :39:28.looking dangerous now. Beauxis is passing ships. Not the usual are
:39:28. > :39:38.banned under. With the advantage of the openside flanker, Warbleton
:39:38. > :39:38.
:39:38. > :41:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:41:39. > :41:49.being off, there is the knock-on -- line. Just one man committed to do
:41:49. > :42:14.
:42:14. > :42:24.rock. The ball is so slow that the breakdown. Mike Phillips is getting
:42:24. > :42:24.
:42:24. > :43:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:43:14. > :43:24.swamped at the moment, so no show an go against the drift
:43:24. > :43:24.
:43:24. > :44:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:44:10. > :44:16.to go through the whole process and slow ball put Wales in trouble.
:44:16. > :44:23.The they don't need to chase this game now. If the ball is slow, put
:44:23. > :44:33.it in the corner! Put pressure on them in their own 22. If it is slow
:44:33. > :45:03.
:45:03. > :45:11.got the ball. They get themselves the put in. And I think that was a
:45:11. > :45:15.turnover ball. The ball was not on the floor and they took it in. What
:45:15. > :45:23.a great kick by eight Lionel Beauxis. In nearly caught Wales
:45:23. > :45:33.napping. We will have a break. you is the crossfield kick. Great
:45:33. > :45:47.
:45:47. > :45:55.Jonathan Davies is back on an Scott Williams goes off. This is Julian
:45:55. > :46:05.Bonnaire. He is off, too. Julian Bonnaire says goodbye to
:46:05. > :46:20.
:46:21. > :46:27.and the crowd knows it. We have had a few in the first have when it
:46:27. > :46:33.went early and it got better. You are now doing it again, so somebody
:46:33. > :46:41.will go for repeated infringement. Can you take that message, please?
:46:41. > :46:46.They know what is happening now. Next time it will be a penalty. It
:46:46. > :46:53.is very interesting how the French defence. The winner drops back and
:46:53. > :46:59.the fullback just goes on the end of the defensive line. There is an
:46:59. > :47:06.opportunity in the middle of the field to put a chip kick in,
:47:06. > :47:16.because both wingers are defending the 15 zone area, so the middle of
:47:16. > :47:16.
:47:16. > :48:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:48:00. > :48:10.another three points to give them a bit of breathing space. Territory
:48:10. > :48:10.
:48:10. > :49:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:49:17. > :49:27.Wales has be put in. Dan Lydiate is on fire. One at tackle! You could
:49:27. > :49:40.
:49:40. > :49:50.hear the thump on the referee's enjoying every second of it! Bang!
:49:50. > :49:59.
:49:59. > :50:05.replacements on the far side. Craig Joubert ushers them on. They have
:50:05. > :50:15.given absolutely everything, haven't they? Luke Charteris comes
:50:15. > :50:19.
:50:19. > :50:25.on, Lloyd Williams comes on. Ken Owens, hooker, comes on. 4G and
:50:25. > :50:35.Alun Wyn Jones take their leave. A 5th of the what Welsh team takes
:50:35. > :50:43.
:50:43. > :50:52.their leave in one go. -- Matthew Watch how tight the French defence
:50:52. > :50:58.are. Free-kick again to Wales. They have had the advantage at the
:50:58. > :51:03.scrummage. Craig Joubert has given them a load of free kicks.
:51:03. > :51:13.Welsh boys haven't really tested Francois Trinh-Duc yet. I think
:51:13. > :51:34.
:51:34. > :51:44.they should put one up and the air do well to disrupt the pick up from
:51:44. > :51:50.
:51:50. > :51:58.the Welsh. That was a good opportunity for Wales. If the scrum
:51:58. > :52:02.starts to creak, you should cancel the move. They should have put up
:52:02. > :52:09.the cake right under the sticks to put them under pressure. They would
:52:09. > :52:15.have had to clear the ball. So will, from the scrummage, which went
:52:15. > :52:23.wrong for Wales, the French now have this line-out. They very good
:52:23. > :52:33.kick from Lionel boxes, as well. Luke Charteris is very much on
:52:33. > :52:33.
:52:33. > :53:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:53:20. > :53:25.front. Wales get the penalty! Number 13, Jonathan Davies!
:53:25. > :53:33.Philippe Saint-Andre is on his feet, not in celebration, it has to be
:53:33. > :53:41.said. Jonathan Davies is on his feet, fighting for the ball. You
:53:41. > :53:51.can see the French clearly holding on. Wales will have the throw-in.
:53:51. > :53:51.
:53:51. > :54:39.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:54:39. > :54:49.Jonathan Davies went off, back on. measured it, just over their head
:54:49. > :54:54.of Francois Trinh-Duc. For the next 10 or 15 minutes, we have got to be
:54:54. > :55:04.in the French half. They have slowed down our ball and it has
:55:04. > :55:06.
:55:06. > :55:11.made it difficult for us to play. think that is it, to grind it out.
:55:11. > :55:21.It is all about winning the game, forget about the fancy stuff. The
:55:21. > :55:29.
:55:29. > :55:38.have got to use this quickly. Ryan Williams goes piling in. The
:55:38. > :55:48.referee gives Wales a few seconds. Lloyd Williams is lost in the sea
:55:48. > :55:49.
:55:49. > :56:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:56:55. > :57:05.everybody has gone. Ken Owens did ever so well that. Dan Lydiate who
:57:05. > :57:34.
:57:34. > :57:44.a ruck. 11, of your feet. George North penalised again. 10 minutes
:57:44. > :57:53.
:57:53. > :58:03.his left foot to this. The penalty gives them a good field position.
:58:03. > :58:35.
:58:35. > :58:39.He did not go for too much to get a run up. There is Luke
:58:39. > :58:49.Charteris's ahead cat lying on the ground. Luckily his head was not in
:58:49. > :58:49.
:58:49. > :00:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:00:07. > :00:14.Picamoles? It would have been a brave tackle. A Leigh Halfpenny is
:00:14. > :00:22.having treatment on the field. It looks like cramp for the fullback.
:00:22. > :00:26.That is the face of Dan Lydiate. Work the yet to be done. He has
:00:26. > :00:36.been immense. This does not look good for Leigh Halfpenny. He will
:00:36. > :00:51.
:00:51. > :01:01.edged the second half. On comes Morgan Parra, not for the scrum-
:01:01. > :01:01.
:01:01. > :01:05.half position but he goes in in place of Lionel Beauxis. Eight
:01:05. > :01:15.minutes for Wales to hang on, eight minutes for France to get the
:01:15. > :01:29.
:01:29. > :01:34.converted try. France with the will go for the posts. I think
:01:34. > :01:40.Wales will be happy with that. Berry is not much left on the clock.
:01:40. > :01:47.Six minutes, maybe, from the restart to hang on. What it does
:01:47. > :01:53.mean, a converted try will win the game for France. They decided a
:01:53. > :02:03.draw is not good enough for them, they have come to spoil the party.
:02:03. > :02:03.
:02:03. > :02:07.Yachvili with a simple three points, four points separate the teams. Six
:02:07. > :02:17.minutes and 50 odd seconds to go. Rhys Priestland has the ball on
:02:17. > :02:55.
:02:55. > :03:01.Trinh-Duc covers for France. Cuthbert bullies him into touch. It
:03:01. > :03:11.was offside. Penalty to Wales. think he threw the ball away.
:03:11. > :03:28.
:03:28. > :03:38.you are right. That was a silly penalty. Only one option here,
:03:38. > :03:48.
:03:48. > :03:53.of this second half. Slower ball but grindingly forceful at the
:03:53. > :04:03.breakdown. Leigh Halfpenny on the break. He slips away, puts his head
:04:03. > :04:41.
:04:41. > :04:51.lead back to 16 points to nine. Under five minutes. France trailed
:04:51. > :05:25.
:05:25. > :05:32.it back on the Welsh side. It is in Dan Lydiate. He has been absolutely
:05:32. > :05:42.magnificent. The referee, Craig Joubert, has pushed France back an
:05:42. > :05:45.
:05:45. > :05:52.extra 10 metres. The minutes can now be eaten away, as long as Wales
:05:52. > :06:02.secure position. They have got to keep position, go for midfield.
:06:02. > :06:30.
:06:30. > :06:40.They have to put this game beyond on leaves it for Toby Faletau.
:06:40. > :06:46.
:06:46. > :06:56.Priestland is in the pocket. Lloyd need a quick pass to Rhys
:06:56. > :07:20.
:07:20. > :07:30.from there? Will still half France Gethin Jenkins, the acting Welsh
:07:30. > :07:30.
:07:30. > :08:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:08:41. > :08:50.captain. They are very slow. second towards their third Grand
:08:50. > :08:58.Slam in seven years. France cumin, they are not offside. Penalty.
:08:58. > :09:08.Penalty to Wales. It is all over! Added on time, Leigh Halfpenny will
:09:08. > :09:09.
:09:09. > :09:15.kick for goal. Or Rhys Priestland will blast it into touch. Wales
:09:15. > :09:25.have won the Grand Slam! They have beaten France by 16 points to 9. He
:09:25. > :09:38.
:09:38. > :09:43.is a second for Warren Gatland. It showed a lot of composure, a lot of
:09:43. > :09:49.opportunity just to close the game down. Did not have to be fancy. He
:09:49. > :09:55.was a game where defensive were absolutely brilliant. They took the
:09:55. > :10:02.opportunity. A magnificent finish. A fantastic game of rugby.
:10:02. > :10:10.Thoroughly deserved. The Grand Slam goes to Wales! 5 out of five in the
:10:10. > :10:15.Six Nations of 2012. And Wales shake hands wearily with France but
:10:15. > :10:23.they -- there will still be length -- there will still be strength
:10:23. > :10:33.left to raise the trophy, to raise their arms. It is those that wear
:10:33. > :10:44.
:10:44. > :10:49.So, this script was written and it came to pass. Sitting as close to
:10:49. > :10:54.Shane Williams has been nerve- racking for all of us. It was a
:10:54. > :11:04.frustrating last 10 minutes for me, I can tell you. And very mature
:11:04. > :11:12.
:11:12. > :11:17.performance by then today. It wasn't pretty.
:11:17. > :11:23.There were many people at half-time he said that if they could give the
:11:23. > :11:33.man of the Match award at half-time, it would have been you as well. How
:11:33. > :11:38.do you feel? Over the moon, to be honest. It is awesome. You have a
:11:38. > :11:45.couple of stitches to show for it as well. You had to dig in today.
:11:45. > :11:50.You yes, we put our body on the line. You have to bid to win a
:11:50. > :11:56.Grand Slam. Does it mean that little bit more but it is France
:11:56. > :12:04.and what happened in New Zealand. It is the first chance for a lot of
:12:04. > :12:13.us to win anything because we are such a young team. To win at home,
:12:13. > :12:19.what could be better? The crowd had been magnificent. They had been are
:12:19. > :12:24.extra man. Thank you very much for turning up. A very poignant day for
:12:24. > :12:30.Welsh rugby following the loss of Mervyn Davies. This is a big moment
:12:30. > :12:36.for Welsh rugby. He was a legend of the game. Our thoughts go to his
:12:36. > :12:41.family. This is for him. Celebrations begin tonight? I think
:12:41. > :12:50.we will have one word to tonight, and so will everyone else.
:12:50. > :12:59.Lydiate, man of the match, congratulations.
:12:59. > :13:09.In the middle of that interview use of the great Mervyn Davies -- sorry,
:13:09. > :13:15.
:13:15. > :13:21.the great Gerald Davies. Sam Warburton, how does it feel?
:13:21. > :13:25.don't feel like I deserve it, I have gone off injured three times!
:13:25. > :13:30.It is an unbelievable achievement. It makes all the sacrifices
:13:30. > :13:37.worthwhile. Was this the performance of the Six Nations for
:13:37. > :13:43.you? Absolutely. You have got to give credit to the French, they
:13:43. > :13:47.nullified our attack, were very quick off the line. But our guys
:13:47. > :13:55.and that did to the way the French were playing and we won today,
:13:55. > :14:02.which has all but pounds. Did you think with a few kicks hitting the
:14:02. > :14:08.post, oh no, here we go again? is such a nerve-wracking thing to
:14:08. > :14:14.do to kick in front of a crowd like this. Luckily we came through.
:14:14. > :14:24.is the injury up to it for you? am going to go for a scan.
:14:24. > :14:30.
:14:30. > :14:37.Hopefully it'll be OK. Well enough to lift the trophy? Absolutely!
:14:37. > :14:46.Jonathan, this has been the first Grand Slam by design? The third
:14:46. > :14:53.Grand Slam, that is amazing. This side is as successful as the 1970s
:14:53. > :14:56.side. Three Grand Slam since 2005 is fantastic. I think the World Cup
:14:56. > :15:02.was a turning point, mentally and physically, and they have just
:15:02. > :15:08.built on it. They are a great bunch of lads. They enjoy each other's
:15:08. > :15:13.company, they work hard, they have the self-belief. It is thoroughly
:15:13. > :15:16.deserving that they take the Grand Slam. Now they go to Australia on
:15:16. > :15:26.to her and they will want to take the scalp in the Southern
:15:26. > :15:31.
:15:31. > :15:36.hemisphere. Warren Gatland looks pretty calm. He is a quiet soul. He
:15:37. > :15:45.has kept his counsel pretty much in this Six Nations. He has been very
:15:45. > :15:50.wise, very honest, West -- with the Welsh players. They have been
:15:50. > :15:56.brutally honest with themselves. This is their reward. This is what
:15:56. > :16:03.it is all about. Losing to France in the World Cup, but they have
:16:03. > :16:10.beaten the same opponents and the Six Nations in 2012. I think they
:16:10. > :16:20.have been great for the game of rugby, on and off the field. They
:16:20. > :16:21.
:16:21. > :16:27.are great ambassadors for this small country. This is thoroughly
:16:27. > :16:33.well deserved. Ireland away, at Titanic game at Twickenham with the
:16:33. > :16:42.last minute drive. This is what it is all about. This is what it is
:16:42. > :16:48.all about, to get up here and win a Grand Slam. Time for the
:16:48. > :16:58.presentation, the RBS Six Nations Trophy of 2012 will be handled to
:16:58. > :17:28.
:17:28. > :17:36.Wales. Please welcome their RBS Six Please welcome the chairman of the
:17:36. > :17:46.Six Nations committee, the chief executive of the Six Nations
:17:46. > :17:50.
:17:50. > :17:57.committee, President of the Welsh Rugby Union. 4G, his 50th cap today.
:17:57. > :18:06.He is at the top of the queue. It will happen by squad numbers that
:18:07. > :18:16.the Co-op. 4G! It is a great moment for 4G, after missing out on the
:18:17. > :18:34.
:18:34. > :18:44.Mike Phillips! Rhys Priestland! George North! Jamie Roberts!
:18:44. > :18:49.
:18:49. > :18:59.Jonathan Davies! Alex Cuthbert! Leigh Halfpenny! Can a ones. Luke
:18:59. > :19:07.
:19:07. > :19:12.Charteris. Lloyd Williams. James Hook. Scott Williams. Now the three
:19:12. > :19:22.captains that we have had in the competition. Ryan Jones. Gethin
:19:22. > :19:22.
:19:22. > :20:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 88 seconds
:20:20. > :20:25.The Welsh captain will now come So, a very well deserved Grand Slam
:20:25. > :20:31.for Wales because they are the best team in the championship. France
:20:31. > :20:36.occasionally brilliant, and unbearably frustrating. We did get
:20:36. > :20:41.back into the second half. We had the opportunity to maybe score a
:20:41. > :20:48.try when Imanol Harinordoquy did not make that pass, but we played
:20:48. > :20:58.with a fullback as a wing, and Number Ten as a number nine. We now
:20:58. > :20:59.
:20:59. > :21:04.need to start with a blank piece of paper and to do things properly.
:21:04. > :21:10.Gerry, what is your assessment of this Welsh team? Thoroughly
:21:10. > :21:20.deserved. We have seen players that will compete for the Lions next
:21:20. > :21:22.
:21:22. > :21:26.season. There is also another team behind this. For years they were
:21:26. > :21:31.struggling to fill their positions and, but I think three injuries we
:21:31. > :21:36.have seen people come through. Dan Lydiate has been my player of the
:21:36. > :21:43.tournaments without a doubt. He has been compelling to watch. They are
:21:43. > :21:47.a very, very talented side. To come into this tournament as one of the
:21:47. > :21:52.favourites and steadily grow into the competition, unbelievable first
:21:52. > :21:57.game against Ireland's, tight one against England and then came here
:21:57. > :22:07.and did the job. They played an unpredictable French side and got
:22:07. > :22:12.it done. They are all at seem, they worked together and socialise
:22:12. > :22:20.together, a band of brothers. Who creates that and how important is
:22:20. > :22:27.Warren Gatland in that? I think he is a big part of that. He is a
:22:27. > :22:34.friendly guy, very approachable. He makes sure we have a beer together,
:22:34. > :22:40.do a quiz, sing-songs, what ever. They are a very close bunch. A lot
:22:40. > :22:46.of these guys are my best friends. Here are two more of the team.
:22:46. > :22:50.Gethin Jenkins and Ryan Jones have joined an illustrious club, you
:22:50. > :22:56.have joy -- you have won a Grand Slam for the third time. It is
:22:56. > :23:00.amazing. It is something we will treasure. What a terrific second
:23:00. > :23:07.half performance from you when Sam Warburton went off. It is not about
:23:07. > :23:12.me, it is about the guys. The boys had been nothing short of superb.
:23:12. > :23:15.They have worked incredibly hard and I take my hat off to everyone
:23:15. > :23:23.who has even played the smallest role. Gethin Jenkins,
:23:23. > :23:28.congratulations. It is a great cup -- group of players. Our defence
:23:28. > :23:33.did out and we managed to grind out a winner. You had to begin today
:23:33. > :23:37.against a very good French side. knew they would be good. They have
:23:38. > :23:42.played well championship and it was up to us to perform on the day. The
:23:42. > :23:46.occasion did not get to us as much as they might have hoped. The
:23:46. > :23:54.atmosphere was unbelievable. appear to have a very special squad
:23:54. > :24:00.of players. What is their belief like? The coach just want us to
:24:00. > :24:05.play. It is a very close group. The World Cup brought us tighter and it
:24:05. > :24:15.has spurred us on today to get our revenge. It is a great achievement
:24:15. > :24:17.
:24:17. > :24:22.for us. Enjoy your night. There is one man who has left the
:24:22. > :24:29.stadium, apart from that, everybody is still here! It is a great moment
:24:29. > :24:34.for Wales. The it means so much to the country, not just people here
:24:34. > :24:39.today. So many people have travelled to Cardiff to watch us on
:24:39. > :24:46.the big screen or in the pubs. It means so much to the country. They
:24:46. > :24:51.will enjoy their night. This will go on. It will never be forgotten.
:24:51. > :24:56.Gerry, you have been talking about Dan Lydiate. Her performance
:24:56. > :25:03.throughout the championship has been extraordinary, but a day he
:25:03. > :25:13.was extraordinary. I tend to think that Dan Lydiate comes from the
:25:13. > :25:15.
:25:15. > :25:23.same cloth as Lewis Moody. He puts his body on the line and manages to
:25:23. > :25:29.stay on the field. His timing is perfect, his technique is very good.
:25:29. > :25:39.My word, he puts in some hits. He definitely deserves man of the
:25:39. > :25:41.
:25:41. > :25:51.match. That is what is defined by winning 100 %. 50 caps today for 4G
:25:51. > :25:53.
:25:53. > :26:03.and another Grand Slam. We had a great win in Ireland. I worked so
:26:03. > :26:06.
:26:06. > :26:15.hard to get back. INAUDIBLE. My 50th cap. There will be some
:26:15. > :26:22.partying tonight. You have worked so hard to get fits. Did you think
:26:22. > :26:26.you weren't going to be involved? was so frustrated with my injury,
:26:26. > :26:30.but for me personally it was about getting myself back fit and I am
:26:30. > :26:35.just glad to be part of the successful team. These guys have
:26:35. > :26:41.been working hard and am sure there will be more success in the future.
:26:41. > :26:45.A special mention for the coaches? Warren Gatland, since he has been
:26:45. > :26:51.here, he said it would take a couple of years to get us where he
:26:51. > :27:01.wanted us to be, but it is still a young side. Looking forward to the
:27:01. > :27:06.
:27:06. > :27:10.World Cup in 2015! Congratulations, Matthew.
:27:10. > :27:15.There is Warren Gatland. He is the glue that binds these players
:27:15. > :27:21.together. Ryan Jones, people thought he was going to be the
:27:21. > :27:27.Lions' captain once upon a time, but he has come back as a man of
:27:27. > :27:37.real force. He has got the experience and knows how to come
:27:37. > :27:39.
:27:39. > :27:47.down again. -- calm down. When he has come on as substitute this
:27:47. > :27:53.season, he has been very, very impressive. Alex Cuthbert won this
:27:53. > :28:02.game, effectively and he is now with Jason. I can tell you what it
:28:02. > :28:08.is like down here. It is berserk. It is a grand slam, how does that
:28:08. > :28:16.sound? Pretty special feeling. It was one of those games were you
:28:16. > :28:20.have to dig deep. It wasn't pretty. It was kick and chase, be dogged in
:28:20. > :28:27.defence. We knew it was going to be emotional with the passing of
:28:27. > :28:37.Mervyn Davies through the week. There was a lot of the motion for
:28:37. > :28:37.
:28:37. > :28:41.the boys. Alex Cuthbert, I am becoming used to best fun
:28:41. > :28:46.interviewing you after scoring a try. For a try won the Grand Slam
:28:46. > :28:54.for Wales. Well, it wasn't just might try, it was the work of the
:28:54. > :29:02.boys throughout the game. I don't think I'll ever have this feeling
:29:02. > :29:07.again. It's not a bad first season, is it? You are a very tight-knit
:29:07. > :29:12.bunch, aren't you? Yes, very tight knit. We want to build on this
:29:12. > :29:16.grand slam and that to this summer. When Rhys Priestland and Leigh
:29:16. > :29:25.Halfpenny hit the posts, did you think, oh my goodness? They weren't
:29:25. > :29:31.far off, were they? I knew we were going to win it. What about the
:29:31. > :29:37.crowd today? Just a great atmosphere. It should be a good
:29:37. > :29:44.night. Well done. The night is young for them and
:29:44. > :29:54.everybody else in Cardiff. We're heading off to Twickenham very
:29:54. > :29:54.
:29:54. > :30:00.shortly. What will be you're memory of this Six Nations? George North,
:30:00. > :30:10.the subtlety of his offload to Jonathan Davies, that was a grim
:30:10. > :30:11.
:30:11. > :30:20.moment. Thomas? I think Wales have a great leader in Sam Warburton,
:30:20. > :30:28.his tackle against Manny Tuilangi. David Strettle scoring, were not
:30:28. > :30:38.scoring in Twickenham? That typified the Welsh performance in
:30:38. > :30:39.
:30:39. > :30:46.this championship. Wales have to kick on from this, don't they?
:30:46. > :30:53.Absolutely. The summer tour will be a big test. Australia are a great
:30:53. > :30:57.side. We need to compete against the top three teams in the world.
:30:57. > :31:03.We are getting there and it will come a point when we will lose a