Summary

  • Wales beat Ireland 25-7 to win Six Nations Grand Slam

  • Wales's fourth Slam of the Six Nations era and coach Gatland's third

  • Wales' 14th successive win

  • Parkes try after 70 seconds gave hosts lead at Principality Stadium

  • Man of the match Anscombe kicks six penalties

  • Larmour scores consolation try in 83rd minute

  1. Bye for nowpublished at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Brace yourself Cardiff, there is the mother of all parties heading your way.

    You can read Tom Fordyce's match report from cloud-nine Principality Stadium here.

    If you want to see how England and Scotland are getting on, step this way for a Calcutta Cup dead rubber.

  2. France edge to narrow win over Italypublished at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    France round off their disappointing Six Nations campaign with an unconvincing win over Italy in Rome.

    Read More
  3. 'Wales are deserved winners'published at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Rory BestImage source, Getty

    Ireland captain Rory Best, speaking on BBC One:

    "Wales had a cracking start. They bult into the game. They're a very determinded side and hard to beat here.

    "We couldn’t get footing in the game. Our set-piece wasn’t up to the standard that we expect. They put a lot of pressure on us and we struggled to respond.

    "It’s been a very competitive Six Nations. We have to go and address why we lost. We've been inconsintent this championship and we'll have to dust ourselves off and finish the calendar year strong.

    "We can talk about the aftermath of this later on you have to give credit to Wales - they're deserved Grand Slam winners."

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    #bbcrugby

    Tony: Gotta be a knighthood for Gats and awards for the rest of the coaching teams. Awesome.

    Dani: HELL YEAH WALES!!! I'm so proud of the boys! GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS 2019!!! CYMRU AM BYTH!!!

    Neil Humphries: I don’t know how to do it, but if someone can set up a crowdfunding page to keep Gatland, Edwards and co forever, I’ll be your first donation.

  5. 'A lot of belief for the World Cup'published at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Martyn Williams
    Former Wales international on BBC One

    Wales have got strength in depth. Remarkably we've done this without Taulupe Faletau. Wales have got belief but a bit of a dampener is that if you look at the last two World Cups, the teams who have won the Six Nations have tanked it in the World Cup - Ireland in 2015 and England in 2011. But there will be a lot of belief for Wales now.

  6. 'We didn't look tired out there huh Eddie?'published at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

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  7. 'Celebrations will be awesome'published at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Hadleigh ParkesImage source, Getty

    Hadleigh Parkes, who scored Wales' try, tells BBC One: "The crowd has been amazing, we're really enjoying ourselves, and to do it like that is amazing.

    "Everyone is good mates and wants to work hard for each other and you can see that in the defence when everyone puts their bodies on the line.

    "We'll enjoy the celebrations for a while. They'll be awesome."

  8. 'We're trying to slip under the radar'published at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Wales celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    More from Warren Gatland on Wales' World Cup hopes:

    "We're just trying to slip under the radar. We know on our day that we're capable of beating good teams so I think we'll have a break now and start preparing for the World Cup.

    "These boys will run through a brick wall for you. They're a really tight group and really close to each other. If we go there with a bit of luck and not too many injuries we've got a good chance of beating anybody."

  9. 'We didn't look too tired'published at 17:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Wales lift trophyImage source, Getty

    Speaking on BBC One, a drenched Warren Gatland took the time to respond to England head coach Eddie Jones' comments earlier this week about Wales being tired:

    "It was a fantastic performance, we didn’t look too tired did we?

    "We spoke beforehand about the players playing for themselves, their families and the fans and being able to create a bit of history. You can never take that away from them now.

    "I said if we won the first game against France we've got a good chance of winning the whole thing. If that creates that bit of belief in the players then maybe something like this can happen.

    "Alun Wyn Jones has really matured as a player. He's done a great job of leading the team in this campaign. He's tough, he's resilient and he deserves all the adulation he gets."

  10. Wales win Grand Slampublished at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    The commemorative Grand Slam t-shirts were printed up and kept on the down-low, but they have now been unboxed and thrown over every Wales player.

    Delilah belts out over the tannoy as friends and families are picked out for blown kisses.

  11. 'We have a habit of winning'published at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Man of the match Gareth Anscombe on BBC One:

    "It's hard to put into words what this means, we've worked incredibly hard over the last year. We have a habit of winning. It's a special group and we worked hard for each other.

    "We wanted to enjoy it. We're in the best stadium in the world in front of our people and we wanted to take the game to them.

    "It hasn't all been smooth sailing. For me it's a day and weekend to remember for Welsh rugby.

    "The celebrations will be a couple of days I think. I don't know if I'll go to training on Monday. I'll have to ask the coach."

  12. Wales lift Six Nations titlepublished at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    The Wales team are called up one-by-one to collect their medals with the last gong and shout-out saved for the man who gets the loudest reception: Alun Wyn Jones.

    The Six Nations trophy and the Triple Crown are hoisted into the sky, quickly followed by red and gold tickertape and flares of flame.

    Champagne splatters and spittle flies as the players roar in elation.

  13. 'Wales defence outstanding'published at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Martin Johnson
    Former England captain and coach on BBC One

    That Wales defence smothered England and it's smothered Ireland again today. They are so hard to beat in physical battles.

  14. 'We've put a target on our backs'published at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones had to wait for the cheers of the crowd to die down before he could speak to Sonja McLaughlan on BBC One. When the Wales fans eventually let him speak, he said:

    "Anything can happen when you work hard and you're a proud nation and we've shown that.

    "Warren's the man at the top and we've been under pressure but he's always been unwavering. He's got a bit left on his contract but I'm sure we'll miss him when he's eventually gone.

    "At times we've been unconvincing so we like to think there's still potential in us. We're well aware we've just put a big target on our backs before the World Cup."

    Jonathan Davies and Alun Wyn JonesImage source, Getty Images
  15. 'An amazing victory'published at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Sam Warburton
    Former Wales captain on BBC One

    That's an amazing victory. Wales have been too good over the past five years not to win a title.

    There have been some ups and downs but to beat ireland, the second best team in the world, is phenomenal and I'm so happy for all those involved.

  16. Postpublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at the Principality Stadium

    An absolutely HUGE roar from the home fans as Alun Wyn Jones appears on the big screen for his post-match interview.

    The man is a colossus, a bona fide Welsh legend.

  17. Wales celebratepublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Warren Gatland is exchanging rib-crushing bearhugs with his backroom staff and is roared to the rafters when he appears on the big screen.

    Gareth Anscombe speaks well, admitting that "it has not all been plain sailing for me personally" but praising "a great group who work hard for each other".

    Rory Best is gracious saying that this is not the time of World Cup predictions, but time to give credit to Wales.

    Now, the big man...

  18. 'Only one team out there'published at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Tony Ward
    Former Ireland fly-half on BBC Radio Ulster

    Credit Ireland for keeping going right up to the final whistle but there was only one team playing out there today and that was the one in red.

    There's way to lose games and Ireland lost badly today. They were beaten all ends up and I can't think of one facet of the game where they held their own.

    It's a really disappointing day for Irish rugby but there is a World Cup coming up so they will have to recover from this quickly.

    Ireland disappointedImage source, Getty Images
  19. 'Composed and in control'published at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Jonathan Davies
    Former Wales international on BBC One

    For me, this was going to be the toughest game and to win with that margin says it all. How this side has matured, they looked composed and in control. It's been a brilliant Six Nations and Wales are in a very good place to go to the World Cup.

    Wales CelebrateImage source, Getty Images
  20. 'Utterly ruthless'published at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2019

    FT: Wales 25-7 Ireland

    Eddie Butler
    BBC Sport rugby commentator on BBC One

    It has been a brilliant campaign by Wales. Not spectacular, but utterly ruthless and when it mattered they rose to the occasion. They have finished their Grand Slam campaign in some style.