I don’t remember last Slam, jokes Shanklin

Mar 15 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

TOM SHANKLIN suffers from temporary memory loss when it comes to discussing Wales’ last Grand Slam.

The 2005 hero laughed, “Three years ago seems a long time. I can’t really remember.

“We had a good run of form going into it but we hadn’t been great before this Six Nations so it’s been a bit strange.

“But we just seem to have got a bit better, which is similar to 2005. Basically, the core of the team has remained the same.

“Some good partnerships have been formed. We have got Hooky (James Hook) in this week. He is a world-class player.”

Wales might be finishing matches more strongly than their opponents, but 51-times capped Shanklin emphasised, “We have always worked hard.”

But he did confide the presence of defence guru Shaun Edwards in Welsh ranks had spurred them on.

“You have got to be in the defensive line unless you have got a broken leg,” said the midfield strike-runner.

“Last weekend in Ireland, I twisted my ankle and it was pretty sore.”

Despite the pain, Shanklin limped back into position and “ran off” the injury rather than risk a tongue-lashing from the rugby league great.

“They are trying to toughen us up a bit more,” he said, in reference to coach Warren Gatland’s comment after he was appointed that the new management would attempt to break members of the Welsh squad by introducing a punishing regime.

“I think Shaun said one of the best sights he saw was Ian Gough coming off looking completely knackered but with a smile on his face.”

Shanklin is bracing himself for the biggest challenge to Wales’ dominance of this year’s Six Nations championship when they face title rivals France in a decider at the Millennium Stadium today.

“They are probably going to be the best attacking side we have faced this tournament,” he acknowledged.

“They have got two big centres in Damien Traille and Yannick Jauzion. Both can offload through the tackle, something we are going to have to look at stopping.

“We are going to have to make another big effort defensively.”

His father Jim was capped four times in the 1970s. Wales shared the 1970 title with France – points difference wasn’t used then to separate the sides – while there was a five-way tie three years later.