Five of the best Welsh Triple Crowns

A version of this post first appeared on The Cardiffian website.

As Iain Ramage, uttered the word “inconclusive” just after 5.30pm on Saturday evening, Wales’s 20th Five and Six Nations Triple Crown was sealed.

Ramage, the television match official, had studied footage for three intense minutes as he tried to determine whether England wing David Strettle had grounded the ball for a potentially equalising try in the last play of what had been a pulsating and compelling encounter. The score was disallowed, giving Sam Warburton the first tangible silverware of his short international captaincy.

Thrilling wins over Ireland (21-23) in Dublin, Scotland (27-13) in Cardiff had preceded the 19-12 triumph over England at Twickenham, the biggest scalp of all.

It was Wales’s third Triple Crown success since the inception of the Six Nations in 2000, after the Grand Slam-winning seasons of four and seven years ago, and the first time Wales had won three Triple Crowns within a decade of one another since 197?.

The Grand Slam is, of course, the Holy Grail of European rugby. But there is something particularly special for each of the four British Isles nations in triumphing over each of the other three.

Arguably, Wales’s 20th Triple Crown, the first ever secured at the home of English rugby, was also the nation’s most impressive. Here, The Cardiffian takes a look back at some of the most memorable Triple Crown-winning performances.

1893

For the first time – and nine tournaments after the Home Nations championship was first conceived in 1882 – Wales picked up the Triple Crown, which, before France joined in 1910, was also a Grand Slam.

In an era which was a far cry from today’s relatively free-scoring spectacles, Wales opened the tournament with a narrow 12-11 win over England in Cardiff thanks to a late penalty from one of the superstars of the era, Billy Bancroft. Notably, exactly half of the total points scored in the championship came in the fixture, which England would have won 22-20 if present-day scoring methods had been used.

Wales completed the Slam with a 9-0 win in Edinburgh before dispatching Ireland 2-0 at Stradey Park in Llanelli. Ireland finished the tournament without scoring a point, though also boasted the tightest defence – conceding only six.

1905

The first golden era for the sport in Wales, 1905 is best remembered in the nation’s rugby circles for the controversial autumn win over the touring, and previously undefeated New Zealand side.

Teddy Morgan, who scored the only points in a 3-0 win, confirmed his place in Welsh rugby lore – even if All Black Colin Deans did insist on his deathbed he had touched down for what would have been an equalising try. Parallels with David Strettle, anyone?

But Wales had already dispatched their fellow home nations in emphatic style earlier in the year. None was more impressive than the seven-try, 25-0 thrashing of England, in which Morgan had bagged a brace of scores.

1969

The prelude to the legendary Welsh teams of the 1970s, the championship-winning 1969 secured the Triple Crown in fine style by racking up 12 tries in the games against Scotland, Ireland and England.

Wales drew 8-8 with France in the penultimate game of the championship to miss out narrowly on a Grand Slam, but the Triple Crown was wrapped up with an emphatic 30-9 win over England at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park.

Maurice Richards, who switched to Rugby League later in the season and who went on to represent Great Britain in the 13-a-side code, scored six tries in the tournament. Four came against England, making him just the third Welsh player to touch down four times in the same game – although a further six players have done so since.

1977

This was one of only three years in the 1970s when Wales did not win or share the championship. Wales did not live up to their 1976 showing, when they became the first team ever to record more than 100 points in one championship.

Wales entered the last weekend of fixtures knowing they had an outside chance of sharing the season’s honours with France following wins at the National Stadium over Ireland and England. But while Les Bleus confirmed their Grand Slam by winning at Lansdowne Road, it was Wales’s 18-9 victory at Murrayfield against Scotland which provided one of the most memorable tries of all time.

It had everything. Gerald Davies picked up the ball inside his own 25-yard line (as was) and sidestepped two helpless Scottish defenders, palmed off a third before slipping a pass to Phil Bennett. He advanced the ball to halfway, fed centre David Burcher, who sucked two defenders towards him before lobbing a basketball-style pass inside to Steve Fenwick, who in turn offloaded instantly to Phil Bennett. For good measure, Bennett sidestepped two more Scots and ran in, untouched, from thirty yards.

Video: YouTube, rubberlegged

Four home players lay sprawled on the Murrayfield turf as Bennett slid to touch down; the stands roared their appreciation; Bill McLaren, in the BBC commentary box, failed to contain his excitement. It was a try which defined the golden generation of Welsh rugby – and secured yet another Triple Crown.

2005

In many ways, the 2005 Triple Crown and Grand Slam came out of nothing for Wales, who had previously finished no higher than fourth in the Six Nations.

An opening day 11-9 success against England – only their second over their fiercest rivals since 1994 – came courtesy of a late, nerveless long-range penalty from Gavin Henson.

Away wins in Italy and France preceded a stunning display of free-flowing rugby as Mike Ruddock’s men ran in six tries (five in the first half) and 46 points at Murrayfield.

The Millennium Stadium prior to Wales's 32-20 win over Ireland in 2005

Photo: Flickr, Rogue Soul

An emotionally charged atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium saw Wales record their first Grand Slam since 1978 by dispatching Ireland 32-20. Gethin Jenkins charged down Ronan O’Gara’s kick for a memorable try, as the hosts finally laid the ghosts of more than two decades of relative underperformance to rest.

England troubled by Six Nations date woes – but can Wales win under a Tory PM?

This post originally appeared on The Cardiffian website

BBC pundit Jonathan Davies, who inspired Wales to their last-but-one win at Twickenham, has already predicted his nation will “absolutely smash” England. Colleague Brian Moore agrees, declaring Sam Warburton’s men to be “clear favourites”.

As the teams head for Twickenham and the third round of this season’s Six Nations’ Championship, pundits and fans alike have been furiously poring over form and news of injuries in a bid to call how the game will go.

But as the tension mounts, some have begun to consider what result might be written in the stars.

English and Welsh forwards warily eye each other up another scrum collapses. England went on to beat Wales 30-17 in the sides' last Six Nations encounter at Twickenham. Photo: Flickr, stephan caspar

England and Wales have met on 122 previous occasions. England have won 56 of those encounters, Wales 54 and there have been 12 draws – most recently in 1983. But Wales’s record on English soil bodes ill for their prospects. Wales have triumphed on just 17 of those 60 occasions – a win rate of only 28 per cent.

Assessing the referee is always a favorite game for supporters. “Oh, it’s him, he never gives us anything” is a typical refrain from wary fans. New Zealander-turned-Australian referee Steve Walsh will take charge of the game on Saturday, but he hardly represents an omen, good or bad, for either side.

Walsh has been the man in the middle for three previous England-Wales clashes. His first came in the 2003 Six Nations, when England triumphed 26-9 at the Millennium Stadium thanks to 16 points from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson. It was to be the second step of England’s journey to the Grand Slam – while Wales continued their problems, finishing winless.

Two years later, Walsh was the man who awarded a late penalty – expertly converted from long range by Gavin Henson – to Wales as the hosts grabbed a nail-biting 11-9 triumph on a way to a Grand Slam of their own.

Finally, Walsh oversaw the first pre-World Cup friendly encounter between the sides at Twickenham last year. The game, won 23-19 by England, was marred by a serious injury to Welsh fullback Morgan Stoddart.

If no omens can be read into the refereeing appointment, what about history? The last time the sides met on the third weekend of the championship was back in 2000, when four English forwards scored tries as their side romped to a 46-12 win.

England might be concerned by the fact this season is only the second instance since the Six Nations began in 2000 they have scored only two tries through the first two rounds of the tournament. The one previous occasion? 2005, when Wales tasted victory in the season’s opening fixture and England finished a miserable fourth.

Not since 1993 has Wales beaten England in the Five or Six Nations while England have been the reigning champions. In 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2004, defending champions England crushed their neighbours from across the Severn Bridge by an average of more than 21 points. England secured last year’s honours – and the champions will be hopeful of extending their record of putting Wales to the sword.

But not all omens point the hosts’ way. England, after all, have an awful record when playing on February 25. In the last 100 years, England have played just six full internationals on the date but have won just one of those, an 18-8 win over France in 1928. Most recently on the date they lost 18-12 to Scotland, in 2006.

But their sole win is still one more than Saturday’s opponents. Remarkably, Wales have never played on February 25.

On the other hand, Wales might be nervous about visiting Twickenham with a Conservative Prime Minister in Downing Street. Wales does much better under Labour – in rugby terms, if nothing else – and particularly in London.

Since the First World War, England has won 55 per cent (23 of 42) games against the Welsh at Twickenham. But when there has been a Tory PM, England improves this record to 65 per cent (15 of 23).

Can defending champions England once again defend their Twickenham fortress from an attempted Welsh insurgency? Or will their February 25 curse strike again? One thing is for certain – Stuart Lancaster, Warren Gatland and their men will hardly be concerned with such trivialities.

Photo credit: Flickr, stephan caspar

Former referee: Bradley Davies and Stephen Ferris should both have been sent off

In a departure from the concept of “grassroots sport”, I have reproduced below an article I wrote for The Cardiffian. But despite it’s focus on the top rung of the rugby ladder, the debate thrown up about refereeing discretion and how to deal with dangerous tip tackles is applicable to those playing and officiating at every level.

Former international referee Fred Howard has joined those who argue Wales’s Bradley Davies should have been sent off for dangerous play against Ireland on Sunday.

Second row Davies was yellow-carded late on by referee Wayne Barnes after a tip-tackle on opposite number Donnacha Ryan.

He will find out tomorrow how long a suspension he will receive for the dangerous tackle during the 23-21 victory when he attends a disciplinary hearing in London.

Also in attendance will be Ireland’s Stephen Ferris, who was sin-binned late on for a lifting tackle on Ian Evans. The subsequent penalty, which was converted by Leigh Halfpenny, was enough to secure the win for Wales.

Howard, who earned the nickname “Fearless Fred” for the frequency with which he was willing to discipline players on the field, said both Davies and Ferris deserved red in the eyes of the law.

Coach Warren Gatland admitted after the game Davies was fortunate not to have seen red.

But Howard said Ferris deserved a similar punishment. “Because of the directives referees are under both technically should have been red cards,” said the man who took charge of eight Wales games in his international career, which spanned eight years between 1984 and 1992.

Among those encounters was Wales’s 1987 World Cup third-place play-off victory over Australia.

Howard believes fellow Englishman Dave Pearson, who told referee Wayne Barnes to send Davies to the sin bin, was at fault. “I think Dave Pearson was very wrong in recommending a yellow card for the first [Davies’s] offence,” he said.

Howard, who officiated a total of 20 test matches, believes referees need to be given more leeway when making decisions surrounding tip tackles and lifting an opponent off his feet.

“The second one [Ferris’s] would have been a very harsh red card,” he said.

Welsh captain Sam Warburton was sent off during last year’s World Cup for a similar tackle on France’s Vincent Clerc and was handed a three-week suspension as a result.

The debate which greeted Warburton’s dismissal has been reignited by the Dublin encounter, and Howard says a referee must be able to judge each individual circumstance on its merits.

“The referee has got to be given some discretion, as they have with punches,” he said.

“I think if referees have reached that level they should be competent in differentiating between serious foul play and the second one [Ferris’s tackle] which was more of an afterthought.”

He added: “I think most referees would want to be given that discretion. I never liked being backed into a corner.”