This Wyn one of the greats
THERE was only one fleeting moment when this Welsh triumph and a record third Grand Slam for coach Warren Gatland felt in doubt.
It came not when Hadleigh Parkes, having crossed with 69 seconds on the clock, raced down the other end five minutes later to haul down Jacob Stockdale as the Ireland wing homed in on the try line.
Nor was it when, a minute later, George North left the field with an arm injury, forcing Gatland to bring on Dan Biggar – his match-closing supremo – about an hour sooner than he would have liked.
The brief doubt came a few moments after that, when Alun Wyn Jones crumpled to the turf, grimacing with the pain of a knee injury. The raucous Principality Stadium was suddenly hushed.
ButWales’ captain was treated, strapped and the cheer that greeted his return to his feet was louder than that for Parkes’ try.
Wales are no one-man team – there is a rich seam of talent running through these players – but without Jones they would lack leadership, commitment and composure.
While Gatland, below, sets the standards off the field, Jones does likewise on it. He is the totem around whom the players gather, the colossus whose influence in driving Wales into second in the world rankings is just as great as that of the coach. This was Jones’s fourth Six Nations title, on the day he equalled Gethin Jenkins as the most-capped Welshman with 134. The Ospreys lock is 33 but nothing can halt him for long. At halftime and despite the sore knee, he led his team in carries, metres made and tackles.
“He has to go down as one of the greatest,” said Parkes. “He’s the leader, the one we look up to, the one that steps up week in, week out.”
When the photographer asked the medalled players to come together on the pitch, it was Jones who ensured every one of them would be in the picture.
“It’s the mark of the man,” added Parkes. “He’s all about this team. He’s enjoying his footy and running around like he’s 21 again. He’s very special, and he’s a very nice man as well, a very humble man.”
Wales were 16-0 down at halftime in Paris on the opening night of the championship; here, they led by the same score at the interval. With Jones on the field there was never a danger of another remarkable turnaround.
Barring Stockdale’s breakout, Ireland were poor, looking spent and so far from the team who beat New Zealand in November.
But much of that came from Wales’ relentless physicality. Gareth Anscombe – whose chip set up Parkes’ try – kept the scoreboard turning and it was only on the final play that the Irish breached their line.
Jordan Larmour went over and Jack Carty converted, despite a cadre of Welshmen attempting to charge it down. Just as Jones would have wanted. WALES – Try: Parkes. Con: Anscombe. Pens: Anscombe 6. IRELAND - Try: Larmour. Con: Carty.