Winning the Slam is massive

Mar 17 2008 Gareth Edwards, Western Mail

WHAT a game, what a day and what an achievement. Hats off to Ryan Jones and his players, they did what none of us thought possible seven weeks ago.

In delivering Wales its 10th Grand Slam, the players have guaranteed themselves a special place in Welsh rugby history and the delirious reaction of the record crowd at the Millennium Stadium said it all.

From the moment Shane Williams conjured up yet another bit of match-winning magic to become Wales’ record try scorer the Grand Slam was in the bag. France huffed and puffed, but came nowhere near blowing this resolute Welsh team off course.

The French brought huge physicality to the occasion, but were disappointing behind the scrum. If the fear beforehand was that Traille, Jauzion, Clerc and Floch might cause some damage, the reality was our defence put a total stranglehold on them.

Of all aspects of the Welsh game this season, the defence has been the most startling. Little did I know when Shaun Edwards rang me before the championship to talk about the defensive mindset of the 70s’ teams that a Grand Slam season would be built on such rock solid defence.

Shaun’s observation was that the three Slam teams of the 70s era had built their success on their defensive structure as much as their attacking potential. In 1971, 1976 and 1978 we conceded three, four and three tries respectively in four games.

What makes the Grand Slammers of 2008 so special is that they conceded only two tries in five matches.

When people talk about defence they can see it as a negative aspect of a game plan. But that hasn’t been the case with Wales this season. It’s been an aggressive defence that has become an attacking weapon, through superb tackling and hard, unheralded work at the breakdown.

I shudder to think how many rucks and mauls Gethin Jenkins and Ian Gough hit in the game – on top of their tackling duties.

Since the disappointment of the World Cup five months ago, the players have responded to the honest and transparent style of the new coaching team.

The players have bought into the new ethos and the results of everyone pulling in the same direction are there for all to see in the shape of the Triple Crown and Six Nations trophies.

For Wales to compete at the high table of world rugby we have to make the most of our limited resources. As a nation we have always produced quality players, yet we haven’t always been able to blend them into a strong team.

Full credit to Warren Gatland for harnessing that talent, providing them with a simple, effective and unrestricted game plan and getting them to believe in themselves. He also put an inspiring leader at the helm in Ryan Jones, a man who must now be in pole position to skipper the Lions in South Africa next year.

He has had a stunning championship and, like so many around him, has grown in stature with every game. In almost every action he epitomised his team – strong, confident, determined, skilful and committed.

Therein lies the difference between the Welsh team of the first half of this season and the second. The Grand Slam side, with so many from the World Cup, has been fitter than any other in the campaign, as strong as any at scrum and line-out, brim-full of desire and commitment and packed full of attacking potential.

Not every minute was perfect. But perhaps that is what makes the achievement all the more rewarding. There is no denying this team is a very good outfit. But they have the ability and opportunity, to go on and become truly great.

There are six more games for Ryan’s men this year – three against the world champion Springboks, one against Australia, another against New Zealand and one against Canada.

Winning the Slam is hugely significant, but there is so much more for them to aim for. The greatest champions never settle for what they have just achieved, they look to the next mountain to climb. Well, Wales have a mouthwatering prospect ahead with a two-Test tour to South Africa this summer and that will present the coaching staff and players with another massive challenge.

I just hope Warren can take a full blown squad to South Africa to give him the chance to build on this success. Nobody can take this Grand Slam achievement away from them, but the team needs to continue to grow and cement their improved status by taking some more major scalps before they defend their title.

I’m sure this season will become known in Welsh rugby folklore as ‘Shane’s Season’ and I’d like to say ‘Well done Shane, bach’. ‘Bach’ is a very apt word, as it means small and what Shane has done is prove to the rugby world that a good little one can get the better of a good big one.

He is one of those few players worth the price of admission in his own right, a thrill-a-minute star who can turn a game with a moment of magic. He has done it time and again this season and did it again to break Gareth Thomas’ Welsh try record.

But as well as his six tries, there were two other key moments that stand out for me in the five matches. The first was that two-minute period before half-time against England when the pack repelled the home eight at a scrum and two line-outs.

If that paved the way for a brilliant second-half fightback, and an historic first win at HQ in 20 years, then the strike against the head in the second half against France shortly after Shane’s try was equally significant.

That moment said so much about how this team thinks and works. Having put themselves into a match-winning position, some poor handling surrendered a scrum five metres out.

The forwards sensed the danger and realised they had to do something to cover up the earlier errors. A huge shove, a great strike and a clearing kick said all that needed to be said about their character and determination.

Welsh rugby has many glorious moments in its past. With two Grand Slams in four seasons it is now in the grip of a glorious present.

But the most important thing is there is now greater hope for the future. That’s what makes Saturday’s achievement so exciting – you sense there is more to come from this highly confident, competent and skilful bunch of Welshmen.

View images from a glorious Grand Slam weekend click here