Chapter Seven

GRAND SLAM AFTERMATH

The day after we won the Grand Slam, I went into my local supermarket in Newport to pick up a few groceries and an old couple came up to me. They said well done for yesterday, and the old lady put her hand out to shake my hand. As I went to shake it, she turned mine over and kissed me on the hand. I was looking round and thinking, ‘I hope no one saw that!' I didn't know how to react to it. I didn't know whether to do it back. So I just said thank you, and walked off.

That was the moment I realised things might be a bit different from now on. We knew there had been a real buzz back home during the World Cup, especially with the Millennium Stadium opening up for everyone to watch the semi-final against France. But we hadn't experienced it ourselves because we were over in New Zealand. This time it was different, because we were back home.

People really got behind Wales during the Six Nations. I think there was a real feel-good factor within the country. People were going into work on that Monday morning after the Grand Slam with smiles on their faces and a spring in their step, just because we did it, and I think that's really great.

The Dragons gave me a week off playing, which was good because the championship had taken its toll on me. It had been so physical and I felt battered. So I was thankful for the break to let my body recover, but it was still a pretty hectic time off the field.

Because we had won the Slam, the whole of the Wales squad was invited to the Senedd – the National Assembly building – in Cardiff Bay for a civic reception. I had never been there before and didn't know what to expect. But it was brilliant. I think about 10,000 people turned up! It just shows how much people appreciated what we did. It was a great feeling.

You get to meet a lot of nice people in rugby, especially when you go out to different clubs and grounds. People are really friendly, and they all want to say well done.

A couple of days after the France game, Sara from the Dragons rang me up and said, ‘Congratulations, you've won the RBS Player of the Tournament.' She said, ‘I've got the award in a box here, so come down for a picture.' I agreed and asked who was giving it to me. She said, ‘I will if you want.' I said, ‘Brilliant!' So I received it from her.

I was really surprised to get the award and genuinely chuffed. It was a massive honour to win, especially given the quality of the other players up for the award. I was really grateful to everyone who voted for me. I don't usually pick up any Man of the Match awards, so to do it at international level and to get two of them in the Six Nations, and then the Player of the Tournament, meant a massive amount. It topped off an amazing competition for me.

It makes me think just how far I've come since I started out in international rugby. In my first start against Australia in 2010, I was really shocked by the speed of the game and I felt like I was chasing shadows. But then, the following year, I played against them again and knew what to expect. It was the same when I stepped up from semipro to regional level; the more you play the more you know what to expect, and you slowly get into it. Then you start building on your performances and that's what I've tried to do all my career. When I finish playing rugby I will look at the Six Nations award on the mantelpiece with pride but the thing I will take away and savour more than anything is being involved with that bunch of boys at that time. For so many of us young guys, it was our first time winning anything and we were all so delighted.

What we have achieved as a group of players is testament to the hard work that everyone puts in, not just the players, but the back room staff and everyone involved. The calibre of players means you pick things up from them, players like Ryan Jones, Gethin Jenkins or someone else. The whole Wales squad has real ambition and we all want to be the best we can be. There's a never-say-die attitude within the group and it's a fantastic environment. Of course, we know other nations are developing as well. I think that as long as we keep our heads down and work hard we will be fine, but it's important not to get carried away and we must never get ahead of ourselves. We really do have to take it game by game. That's certainly the way I approach it.

I do get asked quite often whether my life has changed since the Grand Slam and the Six Nations award and whether I get more attention now. The answer is that things have changed a bit, but it hasn't been a problem. When we came back from the World Cup in 2011, Sam Warburton got a lot of recognition in terms of people coming up to him when he was out, but nobody seemed to bat an eyelid at me! Now, I do get people stopping me in the street – and in the supermarket! In the last couple of games of the Six Nations, I'd taken my scrumcap off because I'd been too hot, so maybe that's why people started recognising me!

So, yes, I do get recognised more now since the Grand Slam, but I don't mind it. Everyone who comes up and wants a chat is really friendly. And we all appreciate people saying well done, and telling us we're really good at what we do. We all like a pat on the back and a bit of praise.

I remember last summer I went home to midWales when the local carnival was on. I was catching up with a few old school mates there, but every couple of minutes I was tapped on the back and asked to pose for a picture. My mates said, ‘Doesn't that annoy you?' And it is sometimes hard when you are trying to have a conversation, but as long as everyone is friendly I really don't mind, especially with younger kids. It wasn't so long ago I was there wanting autographs myself. I remember going to the Royal Welsh Show near Builth Wells when the Scarlets were there one year and getting my picture taken with Scott Quinnell and Stephen Jones. (It's weird to think I've now played alongside Stephen for Wales. Weird, but brilliant.)

So while I certainly don't go looking for the limelight, it does mean a lot to have the backing and support of the public, and it was great to see how much the Grand Slam meant to people in Wales.