Wales overcame the conditions and an obdurate, but unimaginative France side to wrap up a third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons on Saturday.
France had refused Wales’ request to close the Millennium Stadium roof against the heavy Cardiff rain, but the home side won 16-9 with a performance that, aside from a moment of class from Alex Cuthbert, was more notable for passion than entertainment.
The only try came when Wales worked the ball to Cuthbert from a turnover. The giant wing illuminated a frustrating encounter by shimmying inside, outside and inside again to beat three men and go over the line.
Photo: EPA
Inconsistency has been Wales’ most reliable characteristic in recent seasons, with Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008 followed by fifth and fourth-place finishes. With coach Warren Gatland contracted until 2015, Wales will hope this latest triumph lays the platform for a period of dominance similar to that enjoyed by their predecessors from 1969 to 1979.
In that period, Wales won the old Five Nations eight times — including three Grand Slams — and lost only seven matches in 11 years and not a single one at home.
“We’re quite a young team, so this is the first chance for a lot of us to win anything,” flanker Dan Lydiate said. “We’re over the moon.”
England’s defense of their title ended with second place after their overhauled side powered to a 30-9 win over Ireland, who finished third. Scotland lost to Italy 13-6 and were whitewashed for their first time in eight years.
Rugby World Cup runners-up France displayed resolute defense, but only belatedly showed any ambition to carry the game to Wales, who drew their other 11 points from the boot of fullback Leigh Halfpenny.
Lydiate’s work at the breakdown and covering defense, Cuthbert’s tackle-busting surges and scrumhalf Mike Phillips’ composure were instrumental in Wales’ 11th Grand Slam — one short of England’s record mark.
Wales props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones and substitute back-rower Ryan Jones are the only Wales players to have played in all three of the most recent Grand Slam-winning teams. And the trio all played important roles on Saturday.
Jenkins and Adam Jones formed the foundation of a superior scrum and Ryan Jones, who captained the 2008 team, helped repel a resurgent France in the second half, having replaced captain Sam Warburton at the interval.
Wales also avenged their semi-final loss to France at last year’s Rugby World Cup when Warburton was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
“The occasion didn’t get to us as much as they would have hoped,” center Jamie Roberts said. “The coach has given us freedom to go out and play.”
England also extracted some payback, beating the side that denied them a Grand Slam last season. Victory came largely through an unusually one-sided contest at the scrum.
Ireland coped better with the rain at Twickenham and did much of the running, but their scrum disintegrated under heavy pressure. England were awarded a penalty try midway through the second half for Ireland’s persistent collapsing on their own line and replacement Ben Youngs added a second try from his own quick tap penalty.
Flyhalf Owen Farrell kicked 20 points, missing only the second conversion, to help boost interim coach Stuart Lancaster’s chances of being asked to lead the side on a permanent basis.
Having led England to three away wins for the first time in a Six Nations campaign and taken the side to their biggest win over Ireland in four years, Lancaster has made it hard for the Rugby Football Union to contemplate -appointing anyone else.
Andy Robinson’s future as Scotland coach was in doubt after his team ended a promising campaign in last place with just four tries scored.
Robinson could point to yellow cards to Nick de Luca and James Hamilton that forced Scotland to play a quarter of the match with 14 men, but Italy took advantage of de Luca’s absence to score the only try through Giovambattista Venditti to further improve their Six Nations record to six wins from 13 matches against Scotland.
Kris Burton, who set up the try, hit a drop-goal three minutes from time to settle the result at Stadio Olimpico.
Scotland netted two penalties in their worst effort of the tournament. The seventh straight defeat marked their worst run since 1998.
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