The last time Cardiff staged the final, there were 12 Irish on the pitch and another 30,000 or so packed into the Millennium Stadium to witness Leinster’s second European conquest.

England 6 New Zealand 32

MICK KINANE rounded off a memorable day at York by completing a 195-1 treble on Beautyandthebeast (9-2) in the closing Sandringham Handicap.