Mike Ruddock’s Wales approached the 2005 Six Nations with the hope of winning a few games but left as Grand Slam winners and instant legends.
From Gavin Henson’s late penalty against England to Gethin Jenkins’ memorable charge down in the clincher against Ireland, it was one of the Six Nations’ biggest upsets and greatest stories.
Tom Shanklin was at the heart of that side having played alongside Henson in the centres and insists it was only afterwards that the team realised what they achieved as a nation revelled in one of its great sporting achievements.
Setting the scene
Wales were a side in transition for much of the early 2000s – recovering from the loss of key players, such as Rob Howley and Scott Quinnell.
So, when England arrived at the Millennium Stadium on the opening weekend of the 2005 Championship only one result was expected.
But Gavin Henson, Shanklin’s partner in crime, produced a masterful display and booted a late penalty to secure an 11-9 win. Henson-mania became a theme of the Championship.
“Gavin had a handful of caps by then but no one had taken too much notice of him,” Shanklin said.
“And then to have the game he did against England with the tan, the hair and the silver boots and then to kick that winning goal was brilliant.
“Gav was a special talent and he wanted to get that kick so he could have a chance with [singer] Charlotte Church, not only for Wales to win the game!
“He just thought he would get a celebrity girlfriend if he kicked it and he did!
“He was the first player in Wales to really stand out, he was the poster boy. He had the looks, the tan and the boots to go with it so he was the first player in this celebrity era – but people forget how good he was, he was such a classy talent.
“It was 27 years since Wales had won a Grand Slam so it was not on our mind after that, we just did not want to finish bottom.”
‘We looked and thought we can do this’
Following that win against England, Wales beat Italy 38-8 in Rome with Shanklin scoring the second of six tries.
But it was the third game of the Championship which proved crucial, when they faced holders France in Paris.
“We realised we could win the Grand Slam in the second half of the France game when Martyn Williams scored two tries and we were really holding on until the death,” Shanklin added.
“We then looked at it and thought it was do-able. I think we had some belief installed, the only belief and confidence we ever got was from winning.
“We had beaten France in France 24-18 and whatever team they have it is always a tough ask to do that. And then you think it is possible.”
“The best game of my career”
Scotland were swept aside in Edinburgh two weeks later, with Ruddock’s men claiming an emphatic 46-22 success – setting up a decisive battle with Ireland in Cardiff.
With the likes of Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll, Ireland were building the nucleus of their own Grand Slam winners – something they achieved in 2009.
But 2005 was Wales’ year and they saved their best until last.
On a scorching Cardiff day, they stormed out of the blocks – with prop Gethin Jenkins charging down an O’Gara kick to score in the 16th minute. When a loose-head does that, you know it’s your day.
Stephen Jones was typically deadly with the boot and Wales saw out a comfortable 32-20 win.
“It was the perfect day,” Shanklin added.
“I only realised after how big a game that was because we saw clips of the Welsh Guards in Afghanistan all in a marquee watching the game out there.
“You see them cheering and the pictures of City Hall where there were thousands of people on the grass because they couldn’t get into the stadium.
“A lot of people forget I set Gethin up for that try because I lost the ball in contact out wide, Brian O’Driscoll ripped it from me, and it came to Ronan O’Gara but Gethin charged down the kick.
“So had it not been for me losing that ball…I sort of made Gethin Jenkins!”
“I remember the last five minutes and we knew we had done it and you start to hear things. And I will always remember hearing the crowd signing ‘Grand Slam’s coming home’ – it was spine-tingling.
“I swapped shirts with Brian at full time and the next day one of the papers said ‘you’re good Brian but not that good’ because he had my shirt on.
“He was against one of the world’s greatest so I wanted to swap with him. He was the best but luckily we were superior.
“We won in 2008 against France but when I look back at my career, I would say that was my finest performance for Wales. Some days you get games where it opens up for you and for me it was that day.”
Where are they now?
Injuries limited Shanklin during the following seasons but he was back in the side that repeated the Grand Slam three years later – again sparked with victory against England in round one.
He eventually retired in 2011 with 70 caps and 20 tries, placing him fifth-equal on Wales’ all-time list.
Now, Shanklin is now manager at recycling company DS Smith, director at event presentation company Genaro Productions and one half of one of the best rugby podcasts around – teaming up with former Saracens clubmate David Flatman on Flats and Shanks.
