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One win from glory, the 2019 Welsh rugby team could join the greats of the past by becoming Six Nations Grand Slam champions against Ireland on Saturday.

Ahead of the match Sportsmail has gathered together a group of Welsh legends who were part of all the six Slams in living memory for a trip down memory lane.

Wales can become Six Nations Grand Slam champions by beating Ireland on Saturday

Wales can become Six Nations Grand Slam champions by beating Ireland on Saturday

1971 

22-6 v England (Cardiff); 19-18 v Scotland (Murrayfield); 23-9 v Ireland (Cardiff); 9-5 v France (Paris).  

Sir Gareth Edwards: 1971 was exciting, off the cuff, with little fuss. Our coach, Clive Rowlands' last word to me before each game would be 'if it's good ball, use it. If it isn't kick it!'

We trained on Aberavon beach and had just one backs move where Arthur Lewis would cut back against the flow of play. Guess what we called it? 'An Arthur!'

Looking at today's complications, that's ridiculous! JPR Williams was such a masterful runner, we didn't need much else.

Against Scotland Gerald Davies had curved past full-back Ian Smith, but couldn't score under the posts. John Taylor then had a conversion right on the touchline in the last minute to win it.

Wales scrum-half Gareth Edwards (right) runs with the ball during his team's win over France

Wales scrum-half Gareth Edwards (right) runs with the ball during his team's win over France

Delme Thomas couldn't look. I said: 'To think we've come all this way, played some great rugby and will lose!' It was too much of a fairy-tale - but he got the kick.

We tended to lose to France in Paris, but not that final day. Despite the 9-5 score-line it was one of the classiest games I played in. Everyone still drools about it when I go to Paris now!

JPR intercepted Roger Bourgarel five out from our line. I thought: 'I better follow him.' With about 20 yards to go he threw me the ball and I scored in the corner.

1976 

21-9 v England (Twickenham); 28-6 v Scotland (Cardiff); 34-9 v Ireland (Dublin); 19-13 v France (Cardiff).  

Edwards: We were more dominant in 1976 - a confident side with experience in the places that mattered, with the Pontypool front row of Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price.

JJ Williams: I used to have honey and toast before a game but the Pontypool boys would have a bloody steak! Sometimes they wrapped one in a napkin and ate it after the game - never waste a steak!

We stayed in the Angel Hotel in Cardiff and on Fridays would walk up Queen's Street to the cinema - seeing Blazing Saddles one time - all with an ice-lolly! It was fabulous, but so bloody corny.

On match-day you'd open the curtains and see a sea of red outside the window. You daren't go out, as you'd be swamped.

John Dawes would pick the smallest room in the hotel for a team meeting, to make the atmosphere even more tense and tight, then we'd come down the lift and squeeze through thousands trying to grab you as you walked across the road to the ground.

Edwards makes a break during the Five Nations match against England at Twickenham in 1976

Edwards makes a break during the Five Nations match against England at Twickenham in 1976

Edwards: One of the first things John said to us that year was: 'you might not be a good team at the start of the season, but you're going to be a hell of a damn good side by the end!' We believed him.

JJ Williams: The dressing rooms at the Arms Park were very quiet, but when you came out of the tunnel the wall of noise hit you.

France were after our blood, but it was our peak having after the invincible 1974 Lions tour. Mervyn Davies led from the front as a great captain, and we followed.

The collieries were closing down, so the special Slam gave Wales a huge lift.

Max Boyce was starting out then too. As we got better, he got more famous!

So did the Grogg shop in Pontypridd - they made caricature models of Mervyn and JPR to sell. All of that became part of the folklore. Possibly the best Grand Slam Wales ever won.

1978 

9-6 v England (Twickenham); 22-14 v Scotland (Cardiff); 20-16 v Ireland (Dublin); 16-7 v France (Cardiff).  

JJ Williams: 1978 was tougher as teams were after us. In 2005 everyone went bonkers because the modern generation hadn't a Slam and had gone through so many dark times.

In the 1970s if we didn't it was regarded as a failure. The pressure was enormous, and we all had day-jobs, so if we lost had to face the public on a Monday morning!

Edwards: We could've easily lost against England. It was a bloody trudge through the mud, but Phil Bennett tonked over a late penalty and we won 9-6. That was my 50th cap too, so I'll never forget it.

Wales wingerJJ Williams goes over to score a try during the Five Nations in 1978

Wales wingerJJ Williams goes over to score a try during the Five Nations in 1978 

In Dublin at half-time it we led 13-6 but the Irish came out like a warring faction. I never saw the ball in the second-half! It was a super-human effort from our pack. We were so exhausted that for an hour after the game we were still sat in our kit.

Friends wanted me to come out but I was too tired and went to bed early!

JJ Williams: Then the first 10 minutes against France were like Waterloo. It was mad. But when it settled down we'd try to get the ball out and play.

Edwards: For winning we were given a decanter, and a silver badge that read 'Wales Grand Slam' but never had medals. A good shake of the hand from the selectors was it!

JJ Williams: I think we were given a blazer too, but it never fitted!

2005 

11-9 v England (Cardiff); 38-8 v Italy (Rome); 24-18 v France (Paris); 46-22 v Scotland (Murrayfield); 32-20 v Ireland (Cardiff). 

Martyn Williams: No one thought we would win the Grand Slam in 2005, having been poor in the years previously.

Our style caught the imagination and after beating Scotland scoring some great tries, with no Slam for 27 years, it might felt the weight of the world was on our shoulders.

But coming into Cardiff to play Ireland I felt nervous, but unbeatable.

We didn't realise just how many people were in town, as we had come in the back end.

Martyn Williams celebrates after the final whistle in his side's victory over Ireland in 2005

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