In 2008 Wales set a new defensive record as they allowed just two tries to be scored against them, surpassing England’s previous best of four, en route to winning the Grand Slam, their second in the last four Championships and their tenth overall.

RBS 6 Nations 2008
Champions: Wales (24th title)
Grand Slam: Wales (10th)
Triple Crown: Wales (19th title)
Calcutta Cup: Scotland
Millennium Trophy: England
Centenary Quaich: Ireland
Garibaldi Trophy: France
Top points scorer: Jonny Wilkinson (50 points)
Top try scorer: Shane Williams (Wales) – Six tries

Shane Williams was Wales’ talisman as he helped himself to six tries on his way to being named the RBS Player of the Championship in a Grand-Slam winning campaign.

Right from the word go the 2008 competition was shaping up to be one to remember for Warren Gatland’s side as Wales opened up with a 26-19 victory over England, their first win at Twickenham for 20 years.

Elsewhere in the first round, Ireland continued to make Croke Park a home away from home while Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped as they opened up with a 16-11 win over Italy, while France comfortably saw off Scotland 27-6 at Murrayfield.

Five Chris Paterson penalties were not enough to prevent Wales from making it two wins from two a week later, while England snuck past Italy 23-19.

France’s victory over Ireland meant it was a straight shootout between Les Bleus and Wales for the Grand Slam, but two became just one in the following round as England left the Stade de France 24-13 winners.

There was plenty for England to cheer about as well as Wales with this their first RBS 6 Nations away win over France since 2000, while Jonny Wilkinson drew level with Wales’ Neil Jenkins as the all-time leading point scorer in international rugby history.

Wilkinson surpassed Jenkins in the very next game but his three penalties weren’t enough to stop Scotland from lifting the Calcutta Cup.

France breezed to their second consecutive Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy with a 25-13 victory, while Williams’ try proved decisive as Wales wrapped up the Triple Crown with a 16-12 win at Croke Park – the winger drawing level with Gareth Thomas as Wales’ all-time leading try scorer with this his 40th touch down.

And it was that man Williams who set Wales away to their Grand Slam as he took sole possession of that record with his 41st try in their final game – a 29-12 Millennium Stadium win over France.

Wales actually helped out England with the sizeable margin of their win as it meant the Red Rose, who finished with a 33-10 victory over Ireland, ended the Championship in second – their best finish since 2003.

And despite ending on a winning note against Scotland, Italy were unable to avoid taking home the wooden spoon.