In the latest On This Day feature, we take a look back at Wales’ Grand Slam-winning game in 2008.
Away wins at Twickenham and Croke Park had given Wales the platform to go for the Grand Slam against a French side that still harboured their own ambitions of winning the Championship going into this game. Setting the scene Wales came into the 2008 Championship with a new head coach, one Warren Gatland. He had already guided Wales to their first win at Twickenham since 1988 in his first game in charge and victories over Scotland and Italy followed before a crucial 16-12 win in Dublin sealed the Triple Crown. France had tasted defeat against England in Paris, losing 24-13 in Round 3, but with three wins, they had a chance of ruining Wales’ party in Cardiff if they could seal a 20-point victory. Both sides had scored 11 tries going into the game, with Shane Williams and Vincent Clerc both on five tries each. After the Triple Crown win, Gatland said: “The most important thing is the Championship and we’ve got a chance of winning it and the Grand Slam as well so next week is going to be really important. “There is going to be a lot of hype and expectation. “I think France will come and play a lot more rugby, so defensively, there is a lot of work for us to do.” How the action unfolded In an understandably cagey first half, the scoring was limited to penalties, with Wales going in 9-6 up, thanks to the boot of James Hook. Gavin Henson was sent to the sin bin on the cusp of half-time and Jean-Baptiste Élissalde restored parity soon after with another penalty. The game really changed when player of the Championship Shane Williams kicked the ball through after a fumble in the French back line and outsprinted the opposition defenders to score for Wales. Confident in their defensive ability, Wales sensed victory and extended their lead through two Stephen Jones penalties, with Dimitri Yachvili offering one in reply. The Grand Slam was definitively sealed when Martin Williams picked the ball up off the back of a ruck and darted in scrum-half style past the defensive line and in for a try under the posts, where he was mobbed by his teammates. What they said Wales captain Ryan Jones, whose rousing half-time team talk inspired his side to push on, was delighted with Wales’ defensive display. He said: “I’ve talked all along about people having dreams and what more can I take away from this? “It’s absolutely amazing. We’ve defended superbly and that’s what’s won us this Championship. “It has just been a magnificent eight weeks.” France coach Marc Lievremont reserved his praise for Williams, who became Wales’ all-time leading try scorer in the victory, surpassing Gareth Thomas. Lievremont said: “The turning point was the counter attack of Shane Williams, he was brilliant all Championship. “As soon as he gets the ball he’s dangerous, he makes the most of chances, as Wales as a side have done. “The match changed with his try. The result was not known at that point, but that sealed it although 29-12 was too harsh a scoreline.” What happened next France exacted their revenge in Round 3 the following season, beating Wales 21-16 in Paris. The French finished third in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Wales, who beat Scotland, England and Italy, but came up short against Grand Slam winners Ireland in the final game, thanks to a 78th minute Ronan O’Gara drop goal.
