![]() ![]() Early on it seemed nerves might get the better of them, as Ronan O’Gara nudged Ireland ahead with a penalty and Jones pulled one wide in response.But the Welsh fly-half’s long diagonal punt relieved the pressure, Henson dropping a goal from the subsequent line-out to level the scores after 11 minutes.Wales took the lead with a bizarre try in the 16th minute.Brian O’Driscoll turned over Welsh ball but O’Gara, the Irish fly-half, dawdled for a moment too long with his clearance kick.The onrushing Jenkins charged it down, the prop showing remarkable composure to kick ahead and then wait patiently before flopping on the ball over the line.Jones’ conversion put Wales 10-3 up, and Henson extended the lead with a monster 52m penalty from inside his own half before Ireland almost scored with a a great attacking move.O’Driscoll sent Denis Hickie haring away, but Girvan Dempsey was held up on the line by another superb Stephen Jones tackle.The visitors, by contrast, continued to shoot themselves in the foot.A blatant Malcolm O’Kelly shove at a line-out allowed Wales relief before O’Driscoll came in the side of a ruck and Jones kicked Wales further ahead before the half-hour. ![]() ![]() Replacements: A Titterrell, P Vickery, S Borthwick, J Forrester, H Ellis, O Barkley, B Cohen.Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand).Wales survived some anxious moments to claim their first Grand Slam since 1978 with a historic victory in Cardiff.Mike Ruddock’s side held their nerve to beat Ireland at home for the first time since 1983 and clinch the Six Nations.A first-half try from Gethin Jenkins helped Wales to a 16-6 interval lead, with Gavin Henson weighing in with a drop goal and a long-range penalty.Kevin Morgan’s try put them 29-6 up but tries from Marcus Horan and Geordan Murphy ensured a nervous finale.But Wales, for whom fly-half Stephen Jones added 16 points with the boot, held on to complete a remarkable transformation in fortunes.They failed to win a match in the Six Nations two years ago, but under Ruddock they have flourished by reverting to the adventurous style of old. ![]()
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