By Luke Phillips
March 22nd 2009 @ 5:58am
Related coverage
Ireland beat Wales to land first Grand Slam since 1948
Ireland claimed their first Six Nations Rugby Grand Slam since 1948 after edging Wales 17-15 at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Two tries in the first six minutes of the second-half from Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Bowe, both converted by Ronan O’Gara, seemed set to be enough to see the gritty Irish side to victory.
But Wales hit back with four penalties and a drop-goal from Stephen Jones that gave the home side a 15-14 lead with four minutes of the hard-hitting game to play.
It was left to O’Gara, whose out-of-hand kicking in the second-half proved the foundation for Irish success, to kick a drop-goal a minute later to end Ireland’s 61-year drought.
However, they then survived a fraught final minute when Jones missed with a penalty attempt from just inside the halfway line.
Man-of-the-match O’Driscoll said: “We took a lot of flak over the last 18 months but now we are the Six Nations Grand Slam winners for the first time in 61 years. I’m delighted.”
When asked what coach Declan Kidney said at half-time, when Ireland trailed 6-0, O’Driscoll added: “He said ‘We are still in it and we’ve not converted pressure into points.’ But we came out firing, got two quick tries.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland was magnanimous in defeat.
“We’ve got to be gracious. Hats off to the Irish, well done,” said the New Zealander who was also coach of Ireland between 1998-2001.
“They’ve won all their matches. They’ve learned along the way how to win games.
“I’m disappointed, but it was a really tough test match. The two best teams in the competition played today. It was a fantastic match of high quality and drama.”
In a high-tempo, bad-tempered match in which there were three general dust-ups in the first frantic half-hour, defence was the early winner.
In testament to what a hard-fought game it was, Stephen Jones scored the first points of the game in the 33rd minute, after Leamy failed to move away in the tackle, kicking over a 30-metre penalty.
Jones then doubled the home side’s tally with a long-range effort in the 39th minute after Barnes penalised Ireland for crossing.
The second-half started very much as Ireland would have wanted it.
Three minutes of intense pressure on the Wales line paid off when O’Driscoll burst through three tacklers for a try that O’Gara converted for a 7-6 lead.
That was extended to 14-6 just one minute later, an O’Gara dink over the Welsh midfield picked up on the bounce by winger Tommy Bowe, who stepped Gavin Henson’s despairing tackle to sprint in under the posts from 30 metres.
Jones pulled back six points with penalties in the 51st and 56th minutes after an Irish line-out infringement and a needless shove by Donncha O’Callaghan on Mike Phillips.
But Ireland continued to turn the screw, targeting diminutive winger Shane Williams and makeshift full back Henson with an aerial bombardment that made for uncomfortable viewing for the vocal majority of the packed Millennium Stadium.
Henson failed with a 50-metre shot at goal with 13 minutes left to play as Wales tried to muster their forces.
When Phillips was dragged down after a scintillating break, the ball was efficiently recycled and Jones was on hand to land the drop goal.
But Jones was at fault a minute later when he cleared his lines straight into touch from a Phillips pass made outside of the 22m area.
From the resulting line-out and Irish pick-and-goes, O’Gara maneuvered himself into the box and calmly slotted the winning drop goal.
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pothale said | March 22nd 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Whee! A great tstament to the contest in the game of rugby union, that didn’t need cheerleaders nor decrecriers of the ELVs that have have apprently blemished/improved how the game is played.
What nonsense. Today 80,000 fans and another few million enjoyed a game of contest, ambition, nerves, strength, willpower and agony. What else could you ask for?
Am thrilled for the Ireland team who represent two countries and are a first in the game for what they have achieved on such such small resources. Congrats.
Colin N said | March 22nd 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
It was indeed a great game, well done Ireland!!!
It wasn’t great in terms of the quality of the rugby, but it was incredibly intense and an entralling encounter, going down to the last kick of the game. Wayne Barnes had an excellent game and it makes you query why we have to have, should I say incompetent SH refs. Nigel Owens also did well when he refereed.
With England coming second and showing decent form, it makes the Lions selections very interesting.
Jerry said | March 22nd 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Colin, are you trying to make all the kiwis on the board choke on their weetbix?
pothale said | March 22nd 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Yes – England should now take over a good chunk of the places that Welsh wannabes thought they had locked down.
Colin N said | March 22nd 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
haha, to be fair I think he’s a very good ref, but his career has been defined by one moment, which the touch judge could have spotted.
Most times I have seen him in the GP and HEC, he has refereed very well. He refs it as he sees it.
Albert Ross said | March 22nd 2009 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Six Joneses? Is this a record?
Two tries to blot – a Welsh win would have revealed RU for the travesty of the over refereed rule-bound game it is.
LeftArmSpinner said | March 22nd 2009 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
well done Ireland, particularly after such as poor RWC. Les Kiss deserves the spoils too.
Keith said | March 22nd 2009 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
I’m glad I woke up at 6am on a Sunday morning to watch this – it was a great game. There were a few handling errors, but that can be put down to the pretty urgent defence. Paul O’Connor was brilliant in the lineout, and if Ireland could have won some faster ball off the deck the score might not have been so close. Wales played well, especially in defence, but the right team won.
Ireland showed alot of composure and class to set up and execute that drop goal at the death. Millenium Stadium, Wayne Barnes, a drop kick needed to seal the win…good to see someone can do it!
Congratulations Ireland.
Dublin Dave said | March 22nd 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
It was a nail biter, no doubt about it. As for the ref, Barnes is consistent in his rulings about the breakdown: tackled player must present the ball immediately or he will be pinged, but I thought the penalty count in Wales’ favour was ridiculous. And the one he gave in the last seconds, which Stephen Jones had the good grace to miss, was incredibly harsh.
Wallace had come in to the tackle area/ruck from behind the last foot and was blatantly standing on both feet while he stooped to contest the ball. Barnes had not called a ruck nor had he warned players to take their hands off. Yet he gave a kickable penalty on which the result would have hinged with time virtually up on the clock. Maybe he was within his rights to do it but if it had gone over, there would now be two countries in which he would not be able to show his face.
It was a real championship match, tight as a drum with neither side wanting to play high-risk rugby. But boy was it compelling! I don’t think it was all that “bad tempered”. Sure, there were a few handbags at the start but that was just the human equivalent of territorial pissing.
Ireland, once again, were able to lift their game at the start of the second half, the “championship quarter” to get the vital scores. I thought they deserved it.
And I’m as happy as f***!!!
Jerry said | March 22nd 2009 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
Dave – re Barnes not calling ‘ruck’, I think that’s one of his main failings. He doesn’t communicate enough with the players and hence his rulings seem to come out of left field. Also, he sometimes says one thing and then rules another (eg calling ruck in the 1/4 then letting Chabal reach down and pull the ball out).
Colin – I don’t blame Barnes for the forward pass, he was blocked by the passer and tackler. I do blame him for the lack of a call in the final 20 in the face of numerous offsides and ruck offences by the French. Anyway – don’t want this to become another bag Barnes thread – congrats Ireland.
Wallythefly said | March 22nd 2009 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Well done Ireland! Was a great game to watch (especially the 2nd half). At the beginning of the tournament i truly believed Wales were going to do it again but credit to Ireland for coming up with solid wins against England and France and then Wales away.
I think the Welsh will still have plenty of Lions members, it’ll be a great series against RSA
Col the Bear said | March 22nd 2009 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
Is Les Kiss involved somewhere with the Irish RU?? just asking.
sheek said | March 22nd 2009 @ 8:38pm | Report comment
Dublin Dave,
You’re not getting off free here. I’ll be emailing you to get the whole kit and kaboodle as only you can tell us in your unique style.
Harry said | March 22nd 2009 @ 8:59pm | Report comment
Congratulations to the Irish and I hope their fans enjoy the celebrations to the max. I was lucky enough to be there for the RWC 91 and in 93 when they beat England 17-3 from memory and they are passionate, generous rugby supporters. A bit of a pity the Slam couldn’t have been sealed at Lansdowne Road (when is it ready again?) but no doubt after 61 years waiting the Irish don’t care about that detail.
pothale said | March 22nd 2009 @ 11:21pm | Report comment
Landsdowne won’t be ready next year in time for the 6N, so it’s Croke Park again to host for the final time against Scotland, Italy and Wales.
Brilliant game, and so pleased for the team – they deserved it. There’s a civic reception for them outside the Mansion House in Dublin which I’m going to trot along to after the Junior Cup final.
The RTE commentator for the match nearly wet himself when Bowe scored and O’Gara knocked over the drop goal – worth listening to – full of raw emotion and passion – not an independent comment in sight. Classic!
Great game, great evening – my head is still sore after a long night. But well worth the headache.
Colin N said | March 23rd 2009 @ 3:30am | Report comment
On the BBC programme, they showed Keith Wood after Bowe had scored Ireland’s second try-it was brilliant.
Re: the last penalty, I think it was a penalty as I thought he came in from the side, but his body position may have been turned in the ruck, so I would probably have to see it again to decide properly.
pothale said | March 23rd 2009 @ 3:39am | Report comment
Barnes was/is a punctilious pain in the arse. The penalty count was something like 16-5 against Ireland – and we still won.
And I’m still grinning!
Taylor Bridge said | March 23rd 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Congratulations Ireland. Adversity brings out their best .Re the refereeing, Barnes will have to ward off a challenger from Matthew Goddard the Aussie ref of the S14 Bulls v Wellington, last Friday night. 5 yellow card and a red. When will Rugby management get a handle on instructing these parking attendants that not every car has to be towed away if it is not affecting the outcome of a phase.
maybe the Roar could have a column/ article where each week readers nominate the referee who most contributed to the lack of flow of a game with pedantic decisions that had disproportionate effect on the spectacle/ game.
DJ said | March 23rd 2009 @ 10:25pm | Report comment
punctilious
…
nothing more to add, I just wanted to see a thread with this word in it twice
pothale said | March 24th 2009 @ 3:49am | Report comment
Glad you liked it, DJ. It’s a lovely word and describes Barnes to a t.
Hugh Dillon said | March 25th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
As an Ireland supporter, the result of the game gladdens the heart.
I cannot help thinking, however, that a Lions team dominated by the Irish and the Welsh is in for the mother of all hidings from the Springboks. Scotland is weak and England, despite its emphatic victory over France, seems a mediocre side. When the Lions have won, all four nations have produced world class players and the team as a whole is a world-class XV.
England and Scotland have been relied upon to produce the majority of the forwards in winning Lions sides but they will be sea-anchors on this side because there is barely a handful of world-class players between the two of them, especially in the forwards. Only Sheridan really rates as one in the two packs.
What do the soothsayers think?
sam a said | March 25th 2009 @ 11:23am | Report comment
col the bear – Kissy was nabbed from the tahs to be Ireland’s defensive coach on a contract starting in June 08. As someone wrote on Wikipedia – obviously, the source of all information – “The deal was initially for three years but it’s hard to see why it would not be lenthened to a lifetime contract after this inaugural success. Proof once again that Rubba Loig and its adherents are truly the masters of the universe.”
Priceless.
True Tah said | March 25th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Hugh
I reckon Rickie Flutey will be in the Lions, forget hes a NZ Maori who played against the Lions (and if picked he will be the first player to have played for and against the Lions) – from what Ive seen he’’s been an excellent attacking player, and with guns like his, I would expect him to be a great defender.
Hes the sort of player you need against the Springboks, a bit like Scott Gibbs back in 1997.
Worlds Biggest said | March 25th 2009 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Hugh, I posted on another article today that I reckon the Lions can win the series. The pack will have some real toughness with O’Connell, Sheridan, Flannery ( maybe ), Shaw and Wallace. I wouldn’t write them off just yet which seems to be the case with some Pommy journos. The last time the Lions won a series in 1997 I am sure the pack contained Keith Wood, Paul Wallace, Jeremy Davidson and Scott Quinell. Point being that the Celts can get the job done. The Lions need to be competitve and erase the nightmare of NZ in 2005 when that was the Mother of all hidings. I don’t think it will happen in SA. If I had to tip now I would say Yarpies win 2-1 but reckon the Lions can cause an upset. Bring it on I say !.