‘Bad temper and brutal violence’ | Rugby live on this day

March 13th through the years

‘Bad mood and gross violence’

1965
Wales beat Ireland 14-8 in a Triple Crown decider in Cardiff to secure the title for the first time in 13 seasons. Smugly billed as the match of the century, it failed to live up to the hype, not helped by an oily surface that made it difficult to handle. From the sixth to the 26th minute, Wales were without centre John Dawes, who was concussed. And the seven-man group fought for their lives in a forward battle that threw up sparks of ill-humour and brute violence. The crowd also received its share of criticism for subjecting the Irish kickers to a cacophony of noise while remaining silent on their own.

2000
Wales, under widespread attack, dropped Shane Howarth, one of the players at the centre of the Grannygate scandal, whose eligibility was becoming increasingly doubtful. Howarth and four others came under the spotlight after it was revealed that their claims to have Welsh-born ancestors were dubious. He did not play for Wales again.

1926
Ireland were denied their first Grand Slam when they lost 11-8 to Wales in Swansea. Tom Hewitt missed with a last-minute attempt to win the match via a drop goal – which was worth four points at the time. “Hewitt looked surprised,” wrote the Guardian“as if the cup of victory had been broken as it reached his lips.” It was Wales’ first victory over a home country since 1922.

1909
Wales became the first nation to win back-to-back Grand Slams when they defeated Ireland 18-5 in Swansea. All the points came in the second half, with Wales scoring two goals and a try in a six-minute burst after Ireland had taken the lead. In two seasons, they scored 17 tries to Ireland’s seven and 76 points to Ireland’s 36.

1998
The RFU announced that it would turn its back on Sky Sports and launch its own TV channel from 2001 with the intention of flotation on the stock market. Clive Brittle, the RFU’s chairman of the marketing board, was an outspoken critic of the Sky deal and within months of taking office he angered the broadcaster by refusing access to tickets. “We should never sell our rights to a broadcaster again,” he said. Two years later, a “delighted” RFU signed a new deal with Sky.

1948
Ireland completed their only Grand Slam season to date, defeating Wales 6–3 at Ravenhill. It was also their first Triple Crown since 1899 and at the final whistle, thousands of people rushed onto the pitch and carried the Irish team off the pitch on their shoulders.

1954
Neath centre Denzil Thomas, making his only appearance for Wales, scored the winning goal in the closing stages of a 12–9 defeat by Ireland in Dublin. Although the finale was thrilling, the game itself was “as lifeless as it gets and almost devoid of incident”, noted the Guardian.

1981
Bill Beaumont, who a year earlier had captained the British & Irish Lions tour, announced that he would not tour South Africa again. Beaumont’s Lions lost the test series to the Springboks 3–1, but finished their tour games undefeated.

2009
Eddie Jones has stepped down as Saracens director of rugby with immediate effect. The former Australia coach left the Guinness Premiership side early having been told former South Africa centre Brendan Venter would take the reins at the end of the season.

1976
The RFU Cup quarter-finals provided an interesting insight into the leading English clubs of the day. Rosslyn Park won 16-12 at Bristol; Gosforth 14-3 at Roundhay; Wakefield (inspired by Les Cusworth) 12-6 at home to Northampton, and Sale 16-14 at home to London Welsh.

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