Welsh strength in depth wins out

THE names don’t yet roll off the tongue like the legendary team of 1978, but that could happen yet.

The last Welsh grand-slammers grew old together, but on Saturday, in an electric atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium, this young Welsh side grew up together to find the Holy Grail of Six Nations rugby.

With the sides locked together at three points each, Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll surged into a tackle and ripped the ball away from Welsh centre Tom Shanklin. The Irish crowd roared their approval as Peter Stringer passed to Ronan O'Gara, then the unthinkable happened. O'Gara's delayed clearance was blocked down by Gethin Jenkins and the prop forward surged in for a try that Stephen Jones converted.