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Wales victory earns Grand Slam

Wales' flanker Martyn Williams, center, gets the ball out from a ruck during the Six Nations match against France at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Wales won rugby's Six Nations championship on Saturday by beating France 29-12 to complete just their second Grand Slam in 30 years.

Shane Williams scored a breakaway try midway through the second half at Millennium Stadium before Martyn Williams added a late touchdown to secure just a second victory in eight meetings with France

Wales, who had been an outside shot for the title, struggled to break down the visiting defense for most of the game until Shane Williams kicked ahead from a stray pass and outpaced his opponents to touch down under the posts.

Martyn Williams, who rescinded his retirement to take part in the tournament after Warren Gatland took over as coach in December, then broke the defensive line with three minutes left to burst through and score.

The Welsh were rarely troubled and never looked in danger of losing by 19 points or more -- the only result that could have given France the championship.

"I've talked all along about people having dreams," Wales captain Ryan Jones said. "It's absolutely amazing. We've defended superbly and that's what's won us this championship."

Wales' Tom Shanklin holds a Welsh flag during their lap of honor after their 29-12 win over France in Cardiff on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

"It's just been a magnificent eight weeks," he said.

Defeat dropped France down to third place in the tournament, below England, who beat Ireland 33-10 to end their championship on a high.

Scotland avoided last place on points difference, despite a 23-20 loss in Italy.

Flyhalf James Hook kicked three penalties to put Wales 9-6 ahead at half-time and, although France rarely threatened and constantly took the ball into contact, the visitors drew level when scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde got his third kick.

A fan cheers before Wales clash with France on Saturday at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. PHOTO: AFP

But France only got back into the game with Wales center Gavin Henson off the field for 10 minutes for a high tackle on flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo.

With Henson, who has never lost a Six Nations match, back on the field, Wales steadied and the deadlock was broken by winger Shane Williams, who chased and gathered his own kick ahead to score.

It was his sixth try of the tournament and his 41st overall, taking him clear of the record he had shared with Gareth Thomas.

"It's absolutely amazing. We've defended superbly and that's what's won us this championship."

Ryan Jones, Wales captain

Stephen Jones, who had replaced Hook, kicked the conversion and a penalty three minutes later to extend the lead to 19-9.

Dimitri Yachvili's penalty brought the French within seven points before Jones landed another kick a minute later to restore the 10-point advantage.

Martyn Williams then made the result secure when he burst from the French 22 to touch down.

Jones converted and France's failure to breach the Welsh line meant the champions equaled England's tournament record of conceding just two tries in a season.

Danny Cipriani kicked 18 points for England on his international debut but his accurate place kicking, authority over his teammates and slick passing were just as important.

The flyhalf, whose debut ended Jonny Wilkinson's decade-long run as England's first-choice playmaker, helped set up scores for Paul Sackey, Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon as the home side rallied from 10-0 down to outscore Ireland by three tries to one.

England trailed 10-0 after seven minutes following a converted try by Rob Kearney and a penalty from Ronan O'Gara but was level by the 20th as it put together its best passages of play in this season's tournament.

Cipriani scored a 12th-minute penalty and then set up Sackey for a break that gave England a platform to recycle possession. The ball went wide to the right to Iain Balshaw, who slipped a pass to Sackey in the tackle for the winger to cross.

Cipriani converted and struck a penalty each side of half-time to make it 16-10 before he was joined on the field by Wilkinson.

Playing at inside center, Wilkinson helped put replacement winger Tait away to touch down on the right.

Cipriani retained the kicking duties from Wilkinson, who became international rugby's leading scorer last week, and slotted the conversion to continue a faultless game with the boot before supplying the pass that allowed Noon to barge through two tacklers and crash over.

Cipriani converted and completed the victory with a fourth penalty.
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