Rugby: Wales revive memories of glory days

PARIS - New Zealander Graham Henry savoured his finest moment in rugby at Stade de France in Paris as the Welsh side he coaches sensationally scored one of the biggest upsets in Five Nations history.

Wales showed Henry had the Midas touch as they turned in one of their greatest performances ever to win 34-33.

After losing to Scotland and Ireland, Wales looked as if they would be heading for a thrashing in chilly Paris.

But instead, they were brilliant, and destroyed any image that the great old days of Welsh rugby were dead and buried.

Henry is called the Messiah or the Great Redeemer in Cardiff and it is hard to imagine what they will call him now after propelling his troops into a match which produced seven stunning tries, scissors, sidesteps, endless tackles and championship tension.

It was not so much the victory but the defiant flair and free-spirited approach which defied all recognition and every bookie in Britain.

Wales matched the dazzling flair of French fullback Emile Ntamack, who scored a hat-trick of tries, and first five-eighths Thomas Castaignede, who got France's fourth touchdown, at every stage.

At times they even brought back memories of the legendary Welsh sides of the 1970s as they threw the ball around with wonderful adventure.

Henry, who was embraced by his players at the final whistle, admitted it was the greatest moment of his career.

"It was a marvellous occasion," he said. "The only other occasion I've been involved in like that was Natal against the Auckland Blues in the first year of the Super 12.

"And even that paled into insignificance compared to this. Today the guys played real rugby, they kept the ball, never handing it over as we had done in previous games, until we ran out of steam a bit."

First five-eighths Neil Jenkins scored 19 points, including the match-winning penalty six minutes from the end, after Wales scored three first-half tries through Colin Charvis, Dafydd James and Craig Quinnell.

Castaignede, whose penalty gave France a last-gasp win in Ireland last month, had a mixed afternoon with the boot although he put over five kicks.

He was on the end of France's brilliant fourth try late in the second half when the French went in front for only the second time in the match but he missed an injury-time, match-saving penalty.

The Welsh were 10 points in front within six minutes after the first try of the match, scored by flanker Charvis.

The try came after a fine run from deep in defence by fullback Shane Howarth. Jenkins converted.

The French replied immediately with Ntamack's first try from a grubber-kick by centre Franck Comba.

Castaignede converted but Jenkins kept the French at bay with two penalties before Ntamack went over again in the 23rd minute after another Comba thrust.

Castaignede put the French in front for the first time with a penalty just after the half hour at 18-16, but instead of heralding an improvement from the titleholders, two more Welsh tries in less than five minutes had the French reeling.

Winger James went over in the left corner after a series of Welsh thrusts and lock Quinnell scored like a back on the right.

The Welsh went into the interval 28-18 in the lead. With Jenkins in good form with the boot, they went on to set up an historic win.

Henry said Wales still had much work to do before they could compete with Southern Hemisphere sides. - NZPA