Chapter Six

SEALING THE SLAM

There had been a lot of hype surrounding us ever since coming back from the World Cup, but it reached a new level ahead of the France game. I'd never experienced anything like it. There was a lot more media interest, but we didn't want to treat the run-up any differently from earlier weeks. The previous year, when we went out to France for the final game of the championship, the boys had said to the coaches that they felt a bit tired, and as a result we had a lighter week, and ended up getting slaughtered. So after the Italy game, Warren Gatland said that wasn't going to happen again and to be ready for a hard week. We had some tough training. We treated it no different to what we had done for any of the other games. We had to make sure we played well. But it was good preparation. I remember that the last team run was quite relaxed, but we were ready. We'd taken our defence coach Shaun Edwards's advice to keep cool heads, and not get wound up too early. It's all about switching on at the right time.

The match day was brilliant, especially driving into Cardiff on the team coach. Westgate Street was packed. We had the horses walking in front of the bus. It's mad how you always pick out one or two people from the crowd that you know. It may be someone you played rugby with once, or a cousin, or a family friend. They just happen to be there. The drivein means such a lot. It really sets the mood.

A lot of us had never beaten France before, so it seemed a massive challenge but one we were really looking forward to. We were going out there to get a win and hoping it would be a huge occasion for us. And I was really looking forward to the challenge of playing against the French back row.

I remember it was quite warm inside the Millennium Stadium. I started off wearing my scrum cap, but I soon had to chuck it because it was so hot I started to feel stifled. As it turned out, it was one of those games where everything just went right for me and I ended up getting Man of the Match. Everything seemed to fall into place. When I went to make a tackle, even if my timing was out a bit I still ended up clipping them and they would fall over. It was a really tight game, with just the one try, Alex Cuthbert scoring another great touchdown in the first half, and putting us in front.

I was absolutely exhausted going in at halftime. I'd taken a couple of hits to the head and I couldn't really see properly. I'd split my nose and my eye. So I can't tell you what Warren and Shaun Edwards were saying at halftime because I was getting stitched up on the bed.

I remember they injected my nose to stitch it, but when it came to my eye they asked if they could just do it. I said go on then. So I was getting my eye stitched up on the bed without anaesthetic. I got off the bed and tried to go back to my place and was a bit lightheaded. I was in a bit of a state, really, but knew I had to dig deep. That's what it's all about. My former captain at the Dragons, Luke Charteris, used to sum it up quite well in his team-talk. He said, ‘It's eighty minutes of pain you've got to put yourself through.' I remember thinking: ‘This is forty minutes of pain I've got to dig in for.' So that's what I did.

All the boys dug deep. We were just not going to let that lead slip and, minute by minute, the Slam got closer and closer. Finally the clock reached eighty minutes.

Rhys Priestland kicked the ball out, the whistle went and I was on my knees. All the boys were jumping around and going mad. I remember our fitness trainer, Dan Baugh, came running on and gave me a hug. I must admit I did get pretty emotional for a moment.

To win a Grand Slam was an incredible feeling. It was the third one Wales had won in eight years, but before that they had gone twentyseven years without winning one. I remember Scott Quinnell saying he was jealous because he never had a chance to win a Slam. For me to have done something that such a legend in a game hasn't done really puts it in perspective. It's something to really treasure.

Because I was Man of the Match, I was interviewed live on television straight after the game. When I was interviewed I was just looking all round, everywhere but at the interviewer. I was trying to take it all in. Trying to savour those moments. I was so chuffed. It was a great feeling.

A lot of my friends from back home had been watching the game in a bar in Cardiff city centre. I was on the big screen in the pub, being interviewed, and they were trying to ring my phone and text me, which is quite funny, looking back. I've looked at a few of the pictures of me walking round the stadium after the game and I'm just staring up at the stands and around. You try to take it in as best you can. It was an awesome experience and I was just drained by the end of it. But the blood sweat and tears we'd put into it almost made it that much more special.

We went up to get the trophy, and standing there was a big moment. It meant all the more to me that my family was there, and to see them after the game was brilliant. We went to the Hilton Hotel for the after-match dinner and a big crowd of fans had gathered there. As we walked through everyone was tapping us and saying well done. Because we won, the aftermatch speeches went on for ages. I remember nearly falling asleep because I was so shattered from the game.

The boys were going for a few drinks after the match to celebrate but I didn't feel like drinking because I was so shattered and beat up from the game. I just wanted to go to bed.

I did stay out until about 1 or 2 o'clock, but then went back to the Vale. I was just so tired.

The next day I felt as if I'd been run over by a bus. But it was worth it. The scars and bruises all heal, and they can never take away the fact we won the Grand Slam. I am really proud to be part of that.

I do enjoy just playing rugby, but at the top level you also want to achieve things. That's what pushes you on and makes you a better player. And what better than to be able to say, ‘I'm a Grand Slam winner!'

I know that when I hang up my boots and finish playing that I will get huge satisfaction from it. I will be able to look back and think, ‘That was awesome.'