Grand Slam? Yes, but for the Welsh

Ireland, on the other hand, after a season that promised so much, were left with nothing to show for their troubles but the apparent end of an era that ultimately delivered little after promising so much.
Heading into the game, the chances of Ireland actually winning the championship appeared slim, but this task was made nearly impossible by France’s 56-13 demolition of Italy in Rome. That result meant that if Ireland were to claim their first Six Nations title since 1985, Eddie O’Sullivan’s side would not only have to score 13 points to overtake Wales in the table, they’d also have to tack on a further three to edge past the French. In all honesty, it never really looked like happening. Ireland started well and bossed the opening exchanges, while Wales were far from the all-singing, all-dancing outfit we’ve become accustomed to from their other games this year.
But in the 16th minute, the entire balance of the game swung in Wales’ favor, irrevocably so, as it would prove. With the game tied at 3, Gethin Jenkins made his mark not only on the game, but on Welsh rugby history. The bulky loose-head prop from Pontypridd set them on their way to glory. From a static ruck in midfield, Ronan O’Gara attempted to kick the ball into the hole behind the Welsh line, but his effort was blocked down by the lumpy prop. He managed to hack it forward toward the line, and with O’Gara trailing, he flopped down on the ball to the roars of the Cardiff crowd.
Wales appeared to relax after that and penalties from Gavin Henson and Stephen Jones inched the home side further in front. Toward the end of the half, though, Ireland upped the tempo and Girvan Dempsey should have crossed for a try following a zippy backline move involving Denis Hickie and Geordan Murphy. Minutes later, O’Gara knocked over his second penalty to leave the halftime scoreline at 16-6, the same that Wales trailed France by at the break in Paris a few weeks back.
Unfortunately, Ireland never looked like repeating the magical comeback Wales produced that afternoon. They did enjoy a bright period midway through the half, with David Humphreys pulling the strings following his introduction in place of the ineffective O’Gara, but Anthony Foley stepped in touch as he attempted to cross in the right-hand corner and that was the end of that. Kevin Morgan ran in the sealing try for Wales soon after. Eddie O’Sullivan then released his substitutes en masse from the bench and over the course of the final minutes Ireland played with the abandon of men condemned, with both Marcus Horan and Geordan Murphy both crossing for tries in the final quarter.
“Was it a good championship or did we underperform?” O’Sullivan said later, asking the question everyone had on their minds. “I am sure there will be a lot of opinions on that this week and we will have ours as well, but the immediate aftermath is one of disappointment.”