Rent Welsh Rugby's Six of the Best: The Seventies (1978)
2.0 of 5 from 2 ratings
1h 15min
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- Synopsis:
Gareth Edwards selects Wales' six best games from the 70's - some of the best games ever played by a Welsh team that is considered to be amongst the best the world has ever seen. Some epic victories including the dramatic 19-18 victory over Scotland in 1971 and the exhilarating 34-9 victory over Ireland in 1976.
6th February 1971 - Scotland 18-19 WalesIt wasn't so much a great try but a great kick that this game will be remembered for. With Scotland winning 18-14 and the game looking over Wales made a scoring chance for Gerald Davies but he only managed to touch down near the touchline. Up stepped John Taylor to kick a dramatic, and difficult, winning conversion. It was a real see-saw match with tries for Taylor, Gareth Edwards, Barry John and Gerald Davies.
27th March 1971 - France 5-9 Wales
This match heralded a new era for Welsh rugby as the hard-fought victory ensured their first win in Paris for 14 years and their first Grand Slam since 1952. France took the lead before Wales roared back with tries from Gareth Edwards and Barry John and a John penalty. Edwards' try was a beauty, following a 70-yard run from JPR, who had intercepted a pass. Edwards was the inspiration for John's try although Jeff Young started it all off with a strike against the head.
5th February 1972 - Wales 35-12 Scotland
Comedian and rugby fanatic Spike Milligan suggested that a church should be built at Cardiff Arms Park to celebrate the second of Gareth Edwards' two incredible tries in this game so significant was the score. This was Edwards at his best - pace, guile and power all used in perfect harmony. His first was pretty good but the second will live long in the history of the game. Scotland had led 12-10 just after half time but so monumental was Edwards' score that they were blown away as Wales recorded their biggest win over the Scots in their history.
18th January 1975 - France 10-25 Wales
Graham Price didn't score many tries but this match included one that will live long in the memory. He didn't even need to exaggerate it as he really did run 75 yards to score. Wales picked six new caps for this match, including Price and his Viet Gwent colleague Charlie Faulkner. Wales raced to a 17-7 lead through tries from Terry Cobner, Gerald Davies and one from debutant Steve Fenwick. It was a fantastic win for new skipper Mervyn Davies but it was one trip the Welsh fans had to treasure as they didn't win in Paris again until 1999.
15th March 1975 - Wales 32-4 Ireland
This was Wales at their best as they inflicted Ireland's biggest defeat in the Championship, running in five tries. Even prop Charlie Faulkner, fittingly from a Bobby Windsor pass, got on the scoresheet as Wales ran the Irish ragged. The victory took Wales to the Championship title on a day when Edwards and Bennett ran the show, JPR Williams was imperious, and the Irish were powerless to stop a mixture of great forward and backs play.
21st February 1976 - Ireland 9-34 Wales
Another Grand Slam year and a match where Wales were made to work very hard for victory, despite the score-line. The game was historic in that Gareth Edwards' try was his fifth score in successive matches (a Welsh record) and his 18th for his country, which was also a record at the time. Aside from Edwards' score Gerald Davies grabbed two but Wales managed to save the best until last. Phil Bennett was in a rich vein of form and he took people back to his Lions score in 1974 with his try. Bennett scored 19 points on the day, which equalled the Welsh best and to complete a day of records Mervyn Davies became Wales' most-capped forward.
Bonus Game: 18th March 1978 - Wales 16-7 France
A magnificent victory for Wales as they headed to their eighth Grand Slam but it will be remembered as the last match for two Welsh legends, Phil Bennett and Gareth Edwards, a fitting end for the duo. France looked like they would spoil the party, moving into a 7-0 lead, before two Bennett tries (the first with a trademark sidestep) put Wales in control. Edwards got on the scoresheet with a drop goal and Steve Fenwick also bisected the posts in the second half.- Actors:
- Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, John Williams, Ray Gravell, Steve Fenwick, Gareth Evans, Phil Bennett, Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor, Graham Price, Allan Martin, Geoff Wheel, Jeff Squire, Derek Quinnell, Terry Cobner, John Bevan, Brynmor Williams, John Richardson, Mike Watkins, Trefor Evans
- Directors:
- Steve Gammond
- Producers:
- Tim Exell, Jules Gammond
- Narrated By:
- Gareth Edwards
- Studio:
- Go Entertainment
- Genres:
- Documentary, Sports & Sport Films
