Wales, with passion and flair in abundance, secured their 10th Six Nations grand slam with a 29-12 win over France on Saturday to cap a remarkable renaissance under coach Warren Gatland.
Shane Williams lifted the tension in an edgy encounter with an opening try midway through the second half as Wales won a second grand slam in four years and inflicted a first defeat on France in a Six Nations match at the Millennium Stadium.
The winger’s 41st touchdown made him his country’s leading all-time try scorer, and he also finished the tournament as top try scorer with six.
“It helps to have the little Welsh wizard,” captain Ryan Jones said of Williams’s influence.
“We defended superbly and that’s what won us the game,” the Wales number eight added.
Flanker Martyn Williams, persuaded out of international retirement by New Zealander Gatland, put the icing cake by bursting through for a second score late on.
Gatland said: “The players have learned how to handle pressure moments…They’ve given more than we coaches have asked.”
France had to beat Wales by a minimum of 20 points, or by 19 and score more tries, in Cardiff to snatch the title but rarely threatened to spoil the party as Gatland’s side again underlined their improvement since last year’s dismal World Cup showing.
A positive start after two raucously-sung national anthems soon calmed any Welsh nerves under a closed roof.
France were soon pushed back into their own half and a swift break down the right touchline by wing Mark Jones eventually led to a penalty, after a succession of rucks, which James Hook slotted over.
The fired-up flyhalf, preferred to Stephen Jones, earned a huge roar for bundling French fullback Anthony Floch in a confident start but the cheers turned to groans moments later when he pushed another penalty to the left of the posts.
Undeterred, Hook was back on target to make it 6-0 as the French transgressed again in an error-strewn opening 20 minutes from the visitors before scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde got them on the scoreboard from in front of the posts.
Another Hook penalty restored the six-point lead after Julien Bonnaire went into the side of a ruck.
The Welsh defence was tested for the first time as left wing Julien Malzieu accelerated past flailing arms on a jinking run but he was soon smothered and the French attack petered out.
A moment of indiscipline cost Wales three points in the dying seconds of the half and earned Wales centre Gavin Henson a yellow card for a high tackle on flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo.
Despite a one-man disadvantage, Wales won a quick penalty in the opening minutes after the turnaround, helped by Vincent Clerc’s rash decision to try and run out of defence when he had time to kick for touch. Hook failed to make him pay as he again sent his kick left of the upright.
A third Elissalde penalty hauled France level at 9-9 before Wales turned the screw — Shane Williams hacking through after a wayward pass to touch down under the posts.
The boot of Jones, now on for Hook, gave the home side some breathing space and as the French wilted, Martyn Williams burst through for the second try.
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He was born 1905, 1904 or 1908 according to various reports, in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, and is remembered as one of the great Māori players.
