Wales are penalised for driving through the Ireland lineout and taking the legs away of the supporting jumpers which means lock Malcolm O'Kelly falls to the floor.

Ronan O'Gara slots over the penalty to give Ireland an early lead as they take advantage of an anxious Wales start.

Ireland make a positive start with Anthony Foley leading out the charge from the visitors' 22.

Ronan O'Gara launches a clever kick towards the Wales 22 to force a home defensive lineout. The Irish then disrupt the Welsh forwards and put pressure on Stephen Jones' clearance kick.

Ireland mean business and are not here just as party guests.

Well here we go. Wales are going for their first Grand Slam in 27 years and there is no more waiting.

English referee Chris White blows his whistle and Wales fly-half Stephen Jones kicks off as Wales aim to beat Ireland for the first time in Cardiff in 22 years.

Don't adjust your screens - those are indeed football scores popping up occasionally from Saturday 19 March, 2005.

In what was then still known as the Premiership, a fresh-faced Robin van Persie has given Arsenal a 1-0 lead against Blackburn Rovers in the early kick-off at Ewood Park.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Wales have got the big guns out for the anthem here.

Classical-pop-crossover stars Charlotte Church and Katherine Jenkins flank folk hero Max Boyce in a formidable Welsh front row to raise the roof for this special rendition of 'Hen Wlad fy Nhadau'.

And for Church, of course, this is a match with added significance.

Her other half, the perma-tanned prince of centres himself, Mr Gavin Henson, lines up at 12 for Wales this afternoon.

Eddie Butler
BBC Sport rugby commentator on BBC One

Cardiff has been a carnival city since dawn, when the sun rose - and it is still high in the sky.

It is a fantastic day here above the Millennium Stadium.

As for the Wales team, we're only a few minutes away from kick-off and we already have our first talking point.

Rhys Williams was initially named as the starting right wing in the Wales team and, although the Cardiff Blues player travelled with the squad as normal to the Millennium Stadium, he's nowhere to be seen on the team sheet.

Instead, veteran centre Mark Taylor comes in to wear the 14 shirt.

The word is that Williams failed a late fitness test having tried to shake off a calf injury he sustained during the win over Scotland last time out.

Wales: K Morgan; M Taylor, T Shanklin, G Henson, S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Davies, A Jones, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, R Jones, M Williams, M Owen (capt).

Replacements: R McBryde, J Yapp, J Thomas, R Sowden-Taylor, M Phillips, C Sweeney, S Parker.

Let's turn our attention to today's main event and take a look at the team news, starting with the visitors.

Ireland's hopes of a Grand Slam went up in flames with a home defeat against France in the previous round of fixtures - but Eddie O'Sullivan sticks with the same team.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara has recently become Ireland's all-time leading points scorer, while centre Brian O'Driscoll is captain and star attraction once more.

Ireland: G Murphy; G Dempsey, B O'Driscoll (capt), K Maggs, D Hickie; R O'Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes, M O'Kelly, P O'Connell, S Easterby, J O'Connor, A Foley.

Replacements: F Sheahan, M Horan, D O'Callaghan, E Miller, G Easterby, D Humphreys, G Duffy.

So, 2005... Those were the days, eh?

Gavin Henson and Charlotte Church met in 2005 and quickly became the golden couple in Wales.

While Gav was gracing rugby pitches with Wales, Ospreys and soon to be the British and Irish Lions, Charlotte was transforming herself from a classical music child prodigy with the 'Voice of an Angel' into a pop star and chat show host.

The couple had two children together and were an item for five years before they separated in 2010.

Image source, Getty Images

Before 2005, you had to go back to 18 March, 1978 for Wales' last Grand Slam.

During those years in between, they had two chances to complete a clean sweep on the final weekend of what was then the Five Nations.

On 19 March, 1988, Wales missed out in agonising fashion, edged out 10-9 by France in Cardiff.

Then on 19 March, 1994, they lost to England at Twickenham.

Wales clinched the Five Nations Championship on both occasions, but missing out on a Grand Slam at the final hurdle gave each title a slightly hollow feel.

Was 19 March a cursed date? Well, Wales had the chance to prove that was not the case as they welcomed Ireland to Cardiff on that very same date in 2005.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

So how did Wales get to this point?

Mike Ruddock's men kicked off their Six Nations campaign with a nerve-shredding 11-9 win over England.

Gavin Henson was the hero, embarrassing England debutant Matthew Tait by hoisting him up and driving him backwards, before sealing victory with a humongous penalty.

Next up for Wales was a trip to Rome, and they well and truly cut loose with six tries and a feast of enterprising, running rugby to hammer Italy 38-8.

Paris was less straightforward. Wales trailed France 15-6 at half-time but they were transformed after the break, Martyn Williams scoring two tries to inspire a dramatic 24-18 comeback win.

Wales were back to their scintillating best in Scotland, blowing their opponents away with five first-half tries to lead 38-3.

The Scots saved some face in the second half but Wales were still able to cruise to a 46-22 triumph to set up this shot at a Grand Slam at home to Ireland.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Remember sport? That was fun, wasn't it?

These uncertain times mean the live action has been put on hold so, to fill that void, let's go back in time.

Today, we're rewinding the clock to 2005.

It's a mixed bag of a year in the charts, with 2Pac combining posthumously with Elton John, Arctic Monkeys announcing their arrival with a spectacular debut album - and Axel F annoying everyone with 'Crazy Frog'.

It's also a year of reawakening for Welsh rugby.

Grand Slams felt like an increasingly distant memory, with Wales having to go back to 1978 for their last clean sweep.

But the 2005 vintage have breathed new life into the sport in Wales, starting with a nail-biting win over England, which brings to the world's attention the sparkling talent - and magnificent grooming - of Gavin Henson.

Thrilling victories over Italy, France and Scotland follow, all achieved with the flair and elan the rugby world had come to expect from Wales during their golden era of the 1970s.

Then it all comes down to Saturday, 19 March, 2005. Blazing sunshine beats down on the Millennium Stadium, packed to the rafters with Welsh fans daring to dream that a new dawn is upon them.

As Ireland stand between Wales and that elusive Grand Slam, let's go back to that glorious spring day to relive the drama.