The luck of the Irish

The Six Nations is done and dusted for another year. Have we ever had a more drama-filled conclusion? It has always been viewed as a long shot, but as soon as the Irish got over their Scottish rivals on the penultimate weekend, the Grand Slam dream clouded just how hard it is to win in Cardiff.

Going into the tournament, Wales were not only odds on to win the title, but we’re firming to do something they’d only done once before in their long and glorious history and win back-to-back Grand Slams.

So before a ball was kicked in anger, that final weekend was always highlighted as the day Wales could achieve that feat, win the big one back-to-back.

I challenge anyone to admit, honestly, that they were thinking way back then that it could be a Grand Slam opportunity that day but for the visitors instead.

Wales were lucky to be in the situation that they were come early evening last Saturday.

They played a half against Scotland, did nothing more but to beat England, lost to France convincingly, and then were lucky to defeat Italy at all.

If they weren’t as talented as they obviously are, they could have found themselves with only a couple of victories going into the weekend’s historic match.

Ireland not only played the best throughout the tournament, but also played the best rugby.

Brian O’Driscoll played as well as he’s ever played in Shamrock Green and when he’s on song, so usually are the men he leads.

The Irish boys were inspirational against the French in the opening week. Ronan O’Gara set the tempo for his performances over the following weeks with his important and impressive fifteen points.

Unlike Wales, they got the much needed points difference against Italy. And even when they got a surprisingly came up against an up and about England in week three, they were good enough to grasp the victory from the Red and Whites despite Delon Armitage’s late try.

And when it came to visiting Murrayfield, it’s hard to argue that Wales were more impressive on their trip there than Ireland were a month later.

Even so, with the final match upon us, the bookies were expecting an anti-climax: Ireland to claim the Six Nations, but only because Wales would win, but not find the thirteen-point margin they required to win the Triple Crown and Six Nations for a second year running.

In a scrappy first half, you immediately felt that Wales would have to open up and play with more freedom after the break if they were to find the try that would really keep their Six Nations hopes alive.

So in the early minutes of the second half you were waiting for Wales to spring into life. Yet, seemingly without effort, all of a sudden Ireland had found an extra gear and those wearing green were dreaming again.

Luckily Stephen Jones had his kicking boots on as he kept his team in it. But even he can’t make the 57 metre bombs from where the halfway line meets the touchline.

Step up Gavin Henson.

It had ‘Henson moment’ written all over it. Deny the Irish Grand Slam, and bring Wales back to a being a chance for that title again.

It was eerily close to the spot where he famously kicked Wales to a win over England in 2005, a victory that sparked a historic Grand Slam run, Wales’ first since 1978.

But he failed, and with that, you sensed that the luck was firmly on the Irish side.

But the drama ensued, and Wales got back in front to lead by the smallest of margins with five minutes remaining with a Jones’ drop goal.

It now seemed a tall task for Ireland to gain possession close enough to the Welsh line for O’Gara to attempt a drop goal himself.

But who dare deny the Irish, as they not only got that attempt, and converted it for a two point lead, but also achieved it before the final hooter had sounded.

And then, when we couldn’t take any more drama, any more tension, any more twists and turns, Wales won a penalty, right on the death.

There’s no angle to speak of and it’s just in from halfway.

Jones had kicked one over from almost the exact location in the first half. Surely one of the world’s best flyhalfs could do it again, and agonisingly deny the Irish dream at the death knell?

I don’t know how long the ball was in the air: three, four seconds maybe. But it seemed to take an hour or so from the moment it left the Kangaroo leather of Jones’ boot to the very welcome arms of Irish fullback Rob Kearney.

And there it was.

Ireland had done it, in one of the most pulsating sporting contests ever witnessed. A thoroughly deserved Grand Slam.

A big congratulations to them.

Super 14 Tipping now live on The Roar. Join now.

Like this content? Buzz it up!

Free Email updates:

• Get a daily Rugby Union email

Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...