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| Wales’ captain Sam Warburton lifts the trophy as he celebrates with team mates after defeating France in their Six Nations rugby union match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday. (Reuters |
Wales claimed their third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years when they beat World Cup finalists France 16-9 at the Millennium Stadium here yesterday.
The Welsh side, marshalled magnificently by fly-half Rhys Priestland and indefatigable flanker Dan Lydiate, produced a nervous display but still managed to dominate a conservative France team that relied heavily on a kicking game.
The victory, following successes over Ireland (23-21), Scotland (27-13), England (19-12) and Italy (24-3), was sweet revenge for the heart-breaking one-point loss Wales suffered against Les Bleus in the World Cup semi-final.
A stunning solo try by winger Alex Cuthbert, allied with three penalties and a conversion by Leigh Halfpenny were enough to see off a French side that scored three penalties through Dimitri Yachvili (2) and Lionel Beauxis.
“This makes all the sacrifices worth while,” said Wales skipper Sam Warburton, who was sent-off in last year’s World Cup semi-final defeat.
“You have to give credit to the French. They made it difficult for us to get our game going. But we won and that’s what counts.”
Man of the match Lydiate was overjoyed by the victory.
“It’s a very young team and this was their first chance to win anything. To do it at home in the last match in the Six Nations, what could be better?,” said the flanker. “The crowd were our 16th man, thank you all for turning up. Mervyn Davies (who died on Friday) was a legend of the game and our thoughts go out to his family at this time.”
Wales mounted the early pressure, Jonathan Davies cut down by Wesley Fofana in the corner, but it was France who got on the scoreboard first, Yachvili kicking an easy penalty in the 11th minute after Gethin Jenkins infringed at a ruck.
Priestland was the surprise first-up kicker for Wales, with Halfpenny having been preferred earlier in the tournament, but his first effort came back off the post.
A slick lineout move saw Yachvili set up hooker William Servat for a charge at the line, but a fine covering tackle by George North cut the Toulouse veteran down.
When Alun Wyn Jones turned over Thierry Dusautoir in midfield, Wales recycled the ball quickly, Priestland finding Cuthbert out wide.
The 21-year-old winger then produced two scintillating side-steps to leave the French cover for dead and go in under the posts for a superb five-pointer that Halfpenny converted.
Halfpenny increased Wales’ lead with a penalty after Jonathan Davies tackled Beauxis man-and-ball, hacked ahead and Alexis Palisson held on too long while covering.
England crush Ireland to finish second
England finished second in the Six Nations and boosted the chances of interim coach Stuart Lancaster becoming their permanent boss with a convincing 30-9 victory over Ireland at Twickenham yesterday.
A youthful English forward pack overpowered Ireland up front and that dominance was reflected when England scored a penalty try from a scrum heading into the final quarter.
Then, seven minutes from time, replacement scrum-half Ben Youngs sealed England’s win—only their second in nine Six Nations matches against Ireland—with a sniping try as England ‘won’ the second half 21-3.
Victory gave Lancaster a record of four victories from five matches since he was appointed on a caretaker basis following Martin Johnson’s post World Cup resignation.
It also meant Lancaster had overseen his first Test win at Twickenham after champions Wales, who earlier yesterday wrapped up the Grand Slam by beating France in Cardiff, won 19-12 in England’s only other home match this tournament.
“The players were outstanding,” said Lancaster, who refused to be drawn on his future in the job.
“That’s for others to decide. But if you told me that one day I would be applauding 80,000 people at Twickenham with a bunch of lads I respect, I would have taken that.”