We’ll update this page with more coverage from Cardiff as it comes in, but for now, thanks for joining us and, if you’re Welsh, have a great night.
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More images from Cardiff and the celebrations there:
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Heading over to England v Scotland now, which should be... well, something. The championship belongs to Warren Gatland and his brutal, brilliant Wales team. I’ll leave you with the report, but we’ll have more reaction and analysis right here. Thanks for joining me. Hwyl fawr.
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Warren Gatland speaks! “I’m proud of the players. It’s not about me, it’s about them. They’re playing for their familes, and for Wales as a whole. I thought it was a fantastic performance – we didn’t look too tired, did we?” Oof, that’s a dig at Eddie Jones, right there.
“For me, it was about giving our players the confidence. It creates the belief that something like this can happen. Are we World Cup contenders? We’d been trying to slip under the radar! We’ll have a break now, these boys have trained exceptionally hard, they’ll run through brick walls for you. With a bit of luck, we’ve got a chance of beating anybody.”
The whole team collect their medals with Alun Wyn Jones the last up, treated to the biggest roar of all. The fireworks go off, the champagne corks pop, and Warren Gatland appears to have something in his eye.
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Wales, who will move up to second in the world rankings, are about to collect the trophy they’ve won in such imperious style. Who would have thought it at half-time in Paris, eh? Rugby, bloody hell.
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Here’s Alun Wyn Jones: “I’m so proud of the boys, and the back room staff. Anything can happen when you work hard, and you’re a proud nation. Warren is the man at the top, he’s unwavering and unflappable. We’re going to miss him when he’s gone.”
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Warren Gatland becomes the first coach to win three grand slams in the Six Nations. That was Warren-ball at its finest today – not pretty, but ruthless, ferocious and clinical. They’ve won 14 on the spin – how far can he take them in the World Cup?
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Here’s Gareth Anscombe: “It’s hard to put into words, we’ve worked incredibly hard and developed a habit of winning. We’ve got a great group and work hard for each other.
“We wanted to enjoy it. We’re in the best stadium in the world, and we wanted to take the game to them. We’ll be celebrating for a couple of days. I won’t be going to training on Monday!”
Here’s our snap report:
Wales win the Six Nations and the grand slam!
...and with that, the whistle blows and Wales have won 25-7! Alun Wyn Jones holds his head in his hands. The slam is theirs!
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TRY! Wales 25-7 Ireland (Larmour 82')
It took 82 miserable minutes, but the visitors are on the board, Larmour collecting a looped pass and shimmying in under the posts. Carty converts...
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81 mins: Stockdale juggles the ball deftly down the flank, but is held up a metre out. Penalty to Ireland, but they still can’t get over the line...
80 mins: Ireland penalty, kicked to the corner. I think Wales have got the job done, though...
78 mins: Gareth Anscombe gets man of the match – he’s been excellent, but in reality, so has everyone in red. The pack has been relentless, the backs creative and clinical. They are deserving Six Nations champions and grand slam winners.
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77 mins: Ireland get an advantage and keep probing, but the ball runs loose and Josh Adams thumps it downfield. Wales get the scrum in midfield, and the shut-out is on now!
75 mins: Ireland roll towards the line, inch by inch, but Wales simply will not yield. The effort they’re showing here, with the game and the slam already won, is phenomenal.
74 mins: Lewis is caught offside, and Ireland have a penalty inside the Welsh 22. Carty kicks for the corner – can Ireland salvage some pride?
72 mins: Changes for Wales – Watkin, Ball and Wainwright come on for Beard, Moriarty and the try-scorer, Hadleigh Parkes. All three have been exceptional. Murray and Sexton are off after an afternoon to forget – they’re replaced by Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty.
Wales 25-0 Ireland (Anscombe penalty)
Seven kicks from seven, 20 points from Wales, and a scoreline nobody would have dared dream of before kick-off.
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69 mins: Wales are toying with their opponents here, a couple of cute diagonal kicks opening up the Irish defence. Wales have another penalty, and Anscombe will add gloss from in front of the posts...
67 mins: Larmour replaced Kearney, while Andrew Porter is on for Furlong. “Surely Gatland just said to the lads, ‘Give them the ball’,” says Paul Fitzgerald. “Although Healy doesn’t need to see a ball to give away a penalty.”
66 mins: Josh Adams spills the ball as he tries to claim a kick downfield, but it lands nicely for Wales. After an exchange of kicks, Sexton has possession but quickly loses it, and Josh Adams skips downfield. He tries a kick through, but Jordan Larmour – who has just come on – mops up in behind.
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64 mins: We’re still working on the scrum, Ireland’s bedraggled mob being harried into shape by Gardner. Ireland do get a penalty in the end, drawing a wry smile from Joe Schmidt.
62 mins: A crafty diagonal kick-through is collected by Earls, but after a word with his assistant, the referee awards Wales a five-metre scrum. Bread of Heaven rings around the ground; the fans know they’re almost there now.
60 mins: Terrific kick downfield by Aled Davies. Ken Owens goes off for Wales, replaced by Elliot Dee. For Ireland, Roux and Kilcoyne are on for Healy and Beirne.
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59 mins: This has been a death by a thousand cuts for Ireland. There have been so many marginal moments and borderline decisions, but Wales have been merciless in making them count. It’s all adding up to a dominant victory.
58 mins: The ball is a bar of soap out there now, with Tipuric and Wyn Jones forcing the turnover, before Dan Biggar spills as he prepares to kick clear. There’s an Irish knock-on, and Wales have the scrum.
57 mins: Ooooof, Ireland so nearly pounce on a Welsh lineout here. Murray grabs the ball and Healy almost goes over, before a Welsh boot prods the loose ball into touch...
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56 mins: Wales hold firm as Ireland search for an opening across the length of the field. Sexton loses patience and his pass to Stockdale is miles off. Scrum-half change of Davieses for Wales, Aled replacing Gareth.
55 mins: Ireland penalty, which Murray kicks to the corner. Best will take the lineout. Can Ireland make something happen?
Changes for Wales in the front row: Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis replace Rob Evans and Tomas Francis.
Wales 22-0 Ireland (Anscombe penalty)
It’s never in doubt, and Wales turn the screw again. Ireland now more than three tries behind, and they haven’t looked like scoring one.
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53 mins: Another Wales penalty, Stander not moving away as Ireland continue to beat themselves. Anscombe will go for his sixth successful kick...
52 mins: Biggar collects a Murray kick and sends it back into Irish territory. Pressure on Murray, and he shanks his clearance into the stands. Change for Ireland: Sean O’Brien off, Jack Conan on.
50 mins: Sexton restarts, but another errant kick rather sums up Ireland’s day. This was a chance to atone for the loss to England; so far, it might even be worse than that.
Wales 19-0 Ireland (Anscombe penalty)
Anscombe’s fourth penalty threatens to squeak past the right post, before darting inside. A 19-point lead, and it’s entirely deserved. Barring something extraordinary, Wales are winning the slam.
46 mins: From Anscombe’s kick, Rob Kearney tries to venture forward but runs into a red wall. Cian Healy is penalised for clattering Francis, and Wales can add another three points...
@niallmcveigh Ireland currently doing an England by going to a 6N decider against Wales and utterly collapsing in a shower of effluent.
— (((AndyinBrum))) (@AndyinBrum) March 16, 2019
44 mins: Ireland dominate the scrum but Aki has nowhere to go, and from the breakdown, Sexton kicks straight into touch. He’s had a frustrating afternoon so far.
“I feel like I should be a lot more confident and comfortable than I am,” whimpers Matt Dony. “16-0 is a helluvan advantage. But I’m braced for an Ireland comeback. For a start, surely they can’t give away penalties like that through the second half. Ah, sport is horrible.”
42 mins: Wales scrum, from which Peter O’Mahony boots the ball downfield. Wales gather it, but we come back for a knock-on, and an Ireland put-in.
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Here we go again
The second half is under way.
“Ireland haven’t been this far behind at the break of any test for nearly seven years,” writes Gracenote’s Simon Gleave. “They were 29-0 down against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2012. Ireland lost 60-0 that day.”
In a beautiful piece of symmetry, Wales lead by the same scoreline – 16-0 – that they trailed by in Paris in the opening match. They came back to win, of course, and the rest is history.
Half-time reading:
Half time: Wales 16-0 Ireland
Anscombe does the necessary, and Wales have a handsome lead at half-time. The grand slam is in touching distance!
40 mins: The Ireland scrum goes down under intense Welsh pressure, and Anscombe can add another three points...
39 mins: Another Irish error hands Wales a lineout on the 22, and a chance to add to their lead before half time. Ireland turn over but are penalised for a knock on – missed first time by Gardner. Wales scrum – could they go for a drop goal to end the half?
36 mins: The forced reshuffle at the back for Wales hasn’t done them any harm – Biggar keeps them on top with an outrageous backspinning kick to touch. The replacement fly-half then gets up to snaffle the ball brilliantly ahead of Jacob Stockdale.
Wales 13-0 Ireland (Anscombe penalty)
It’s another colossal kick, never in danger of missing. Wales extend their lead – if they can get to half-time with this lead, they’ll have one hand on the trophy.
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34 mins: Moriarty bursts over the gain line, but Navidi is penalised for going in off his feet. From an Ireland lineout, Wales steal the ball and the visitors are offside from Biggar’s kick across the field. So untidy from Ireland, and Anscombe will go for the three points...
31 mins: Worth noting, as Ireland make the ball look as grippy as a greased jellyfish, that Joe Schmidt requested that the roof be left open. It’s working against them so far.
30 mins: A superb clearing kick from Jonathan Davies, lifting the pressure off the hosts. Irish lineout, won in scrappy fashion – but Murray knocks on.
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28 mins: The referee has another word with Gareth Davies, then awards a free kick to Ireland from the scrum. CJ Stander makes a mess of it though, spilling the ball and handing Wales possession. The fine margins are all going Wales’s way so far.
27 mins: They crank up the pressure but Wales’s big beasts – your Wyn Joneses, your Tipurics – stand firm. Ireland will have a scrum, 10m out – can they get some points on the board?
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25 mins: Wales just about clear their lines from the scrum, with Conor Murray chasing down like a man possessed. The clearance is collected by Keith Earls, and Ireland will come again...
23 mins: James Ryan collects the lineout and Ireland try to roll for the line. It goes to ground – Beard and Tipuric working hard to stop the momentum – and Wales will get the scrum! Titanic defence, greeted with a lusty roar from the crowd.
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21 mins: Some good old Cardiff drizzle has arrived right on cue, and will make the ball increasingly slippery. Wales are penalised for collapsing the maul, and Sexton weighs up his options. He’s going for the corner...
20 mins: Navidi sidesteps a couple of tackles, before Biggar’s chip over the top is collected by Bundee Aki. There’s then an unseemly scuffle, with Kearney sliding in and upending Parkes, before Gareth Davies shoves Aki from on the ground. Wales had a penalty advantage, but the referee overturns it! That was pretty daft from Davies.
18 mins: Discipline becoming a bit of an issue for Ireland, with Beirne – perhaps a touch harshly – whistled for coming in at the side. Another Welsh lineout won...
Wales 10-0 Ireland (Anscombe penalty)
It’s a long way out, and close to the right flank, but Anscombe’s kick is a missile that curls beautifully between the posts. A double-figure lead for Wales!
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15 mins: An exchange of kicks in midfield before Sexton is penalised for grabbing Liam Williams as he tried to tackle Stockdale. You don’t need to be an expert lip reader to see what Sexton thought of the call. Wales penalty, and Anscombe will kick for goal...
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13 mins: Wales try to push Ireland back, but Josh Navidi gets overexcited and is punished for a high tackle. Ireland look to have survived that spell of Welsh pressure.
12 mins: The move is ended by Tadhg Beirne – forming a ‘Tadhg team’ with Furlong in the pack today. He turns over clinically to end the danger. Welsh lineout – but Ireland steal it!
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11 mins: From a lineout, Wales exert more pressure on the Irish defence, inching to within five metres of the try-line...
10 mins: And now Alun Wyn Jones has gone down, and is getting his knee strapped up. A replay of the North incident shows him trying to strip the ball away, and immediately clutching his left wrist. Worrying times for Wales...
9 mins: A very early change for Wales, with George North forced off with an arm injury. Dan Biggar is coming on, which could mean Anscombe – who has made a terrific start at fly-half – moving to full-back.
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8 mins: Both teams can get their breath back as Angus Gardner tries to get an acceptable scrum together. “I can’t hear eh, it’s loud,” the referee tells both captains.
6 mins: Sexton pings the kick right across the field, where Stockdale collects it smartly, tight to the left touchline. He sprints past one challenge, but Parkes gets back to make a try-saving tackle!
5 mins: Wales have a scrum in midfield, but the ball runs loose and Ireland can attack. Jonathan Davies intercepts and a kick through from Anscombe switched the momentum. Earls does well to collect it and Josh Adams is penalised for tripping...
3 mins: Wales 7-0 Ireland Anscombe adds the conversion. That was a huge flex from the hosts, setting up a lineout – a recent weak spot for them – and doing what England did in Dublin, getting on the board immediately.
TRY! Wales 5-0 Ireland (Parkes 1')
What a start for Wales! They get a penalty advantage but keep the pressure on, and Anscombe’s clever chip kick is caught by Hadleigh Parkes!
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Here we go
Referee Angus Gardner blows his whistle, and Gareth Anscombe delivers a pinpoint kick to set up a Welsh lineout.
Time for the anthems – Ireland’s Call, and then Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, roared by thousands, but none louder than Alun Wyn Jones. It’s a thwack to the solar plexus, that’s for sure.
The teams are on the pitch, and there is a perfectly observed minute’s silence for the victims of the horrific events in Christchurch.
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It’s almost time. How are we feeling? Anyone dare to make a prediction?
All over in Rome, and Italy couldn’t get the job done, with France adding a late breakaway try to seal their second win of this year’s Six Nations. Italy have now gone four tournaments without a win – a stat that won’t have gone unnoticed in Tbilisi.
Quite the game in Rome, where Italy are six points behind and doing everything but score what could be a match-winning try. They’re running out of time:
More pre-game reading:
Gracenote’s Simon Gleave has some stats that point to where today’s game might be won or lost.
The third quarter: Wales are the only team to win a Six Nations-era Grand Slam after losing the first half of their first match. They’ve done it twice (2008, 2012) and are going for a third today. Wales have scored two-thirds of their points in the second half, but Ireland haven’t conceded a single point between the 41st and 60th minutes.
Lineouts: The Wales lineout has been under pressure during this Six Nations, losing 11 of the 43 on their own throw (26%). by contrast, Ireland have stolen nine of the 38 opposition lineouts they’ve faced.
Over in Rome, Italy are giving France a run for their money – the visitors currently lead 17-14. They’re playing for the dubious honour of lifting the unwieldy Garibaldi Trophy.
Pre-match reading
The teams
Wales: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.
Replacements: Elliot Dee; Nicky Smith; Dillon Lewis; Jake Ball; Aaron Wainwright; Aled Davies; Dan Biggar; Owen Watkin.
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best (c), Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty, Jordan Larmour.
Preamble
One way or another, one of the most keenly anticipated, fiercely contested Six Nations in recent history is going to be won today.
The equation for Warren Gatland and Wales is very simple. Win and they will be champions, and complete the grand slam. The trophy is here, they just need to put the ribbons on it – but try telling that to the Welsh fans who didn’t sleep a wink last night.
If Ireland can spoil the party, then it’s over to England; avoid defeat to Scotland at Twickenham, and they’ll win the title. There’s a replica trophy there, just in case. If Scotland end their long losing run down south, then Ireland can implausibly snatch the trophy.
Each of the original Home Nations has something to play for, but the intensity will be deafening here in Cardiff. After fighting back against France and England, and grinding it out in Scotland and Italy, they will take a win – any win. Destiny awaits. Kick-off is at 2.45pm GMT.
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