THE NINETIES FACT FILE
Wales – Played 98, Won 48, Drew 1, Lost 49
49.5% success rate
Tries 230-259
1 Championship win in 1994
Beat South Africa in 1999 (29-19)
Most appearances in decade – Neil Jenkins (Pontypridd/Cardiff) 73
Most tries in decade – Ieuan Evans (Llanelli) 26
Most points in decade – Neil Jenkins (Pontypridd/Cardiff) 895
Most appearances as captain – Ieuan Evans (Llanelli) 28
Most wins by a player in the decade – Neil Jenkins (Pontypridd/Cardiff) 37
NINETIES NOMINEES
Back Nominees – Allan Bateman, Ieuan Evans, Scott Gibbs, Rob Howley, Neil Jenkins.
Forward Nominees – Jonathan Humphreys, Garin Jenkins, Gareth Llewellyn, Scott Quinnell, Dai Young.
.NINETIESBacks
Allan Bateman
Nicknamed 'The Clamp' for his great tackling skills, he was equally at home at centre or on the wing. Wales missed out on some of his best years when he went to rugby league and starred for Great Britain and Wales, but he returned to become a key member of the side under Graham Henry and was a Lion in South Africa on the victorious tour in 1997.
Ieuan Evans
The greatest try scoring machine Wales had ever known until eventually overtaken by Gareth Thomas. Had an instinctive nose for the try line and turned into Wales' most capped skipper. Was in charge when the Five Nations Trophy came to Wales for the first time in 1994 and was a Lion on three tours.
Scott Gibbs
Has there ever been a tougher tackler than Scott Gibbs? Could stop a car in its tracks and run through a barn door. Made his debut as a teenager and returned to union after a successful stint in league with St Helen's. Was a more than useful playmaker at centre and was truly inspirational for the Lions in South Africa when they won the series there in 1997. Also a Lion in 1993 and 2001.
Rob Howley
Right up there with Wales' greatest scrum halves and ranked as the best in the world in his prime. A great runner, his physical strength was sometimes underestimated. A Lion in 1997 and 2001, injuries ruined his chances of joining in the 1997 triumph in South Africa.
Neil Jenkins
The pride of Ponty, the ginger haired teenager became the world's greatest goalkicker. Still holds the world points record and was a match winner for the Lions in South Africa in 1997 with his boot. Played at outside half, centre and full back for his country., scoring 1,049 points in 87 Tests.
Forwards
Jonathan Humphreys
An inspirational skipper from the middle of the front row who commanded huge respect from the opposition as well as his own side. Highly combative and accurate at the line-out, he scored two tries in 33 games in the decade and also captained his country. Was the skipper when Wales beat France to avoid a championship whitewash in 1996.
Garin Jenkins
Wore his heart on his sleeve and had a very high nuisance value. One of those players you always wanted on your side and hated to play against. Great scrummager, superb forager and fiercely committed to the Welsh cause. Was one of the cornerstones of the side that went a record equalling 10 games unbeaten under Graham Henry.
Gareth Llewellyn
Mr Consistency and Wales' record cap holder with 92 appearances across three decades. Super fit and super competitive. Had arguably his best game for Wales during the win over England in Cardiff in 1993 and simply got better with age.
Scott Quinnell
Like father, like son. Scott became one of the greatest ball carriers in the world game. Twice a Lion, he returned from rugby league a much better player and became feared throughout the game. Scored a fantastic try against France to end a 12 year wait for a home win in 1994 and set up the Scott Gibbs try against England at Wembley.
Dai Young
A 19-year-old debutant at the inaugural World Cup, he developed into one of the world's great tight head props either side of a stint in rugby league. Unmovable at the scrum, he was a major enforcer at the breakdown and developed into a mainstay of the Welsh pack.
NINETIES TRIES
IEUAN LEAVES RORY FOR DEAD – Wales 10, England 9, Arms Park, 6 February, 1993
England were chasing a triple Grand Slam and came to Cardiff brimful of confidence. They merely had to turn up to win everyone thought. In front of the Princess of Wales, the home side dug deep and conjured up a miracle try. Emyr Lewis chipped ahead on the narrow side of a scrum on half-way and Ieuan Evans' pace did the rest as he raced past Rory Underwood and embarrassed Jon Webb.
ALFIE LEGS IT TO GLORY – Wales 19, Australia 28, Arms Park, 1 December, 1996
Gareth Thomas is used to scoring spectacular tries, but not from five metres outside his own goal line! That is where the Wales centre intercepted a George Gregan pass before hurtling upfield to score the longest interception try ever seen at the Arms Park. It ehlpe dto put Wales 19-18 ahead before the Wallabies stormed back.
ROB'S SOLO EFFORT SALVAGES PRIDE – Wales 13, England 34, Arms Park, 15 March, 1997
It was the last game at the old National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, and England had romped home. They were leading 34-6 before Rob Howley thought the home fans should have something to remember the old ground by. His sidestepping, solo run was classically Welsh in its execution and became the last international try scored at the old stadium.
GREAT SCOTT 1 – Wales 24, France 15, Arms Park, 19 February, 1994
Wales hadn't beaten France for 12 years and the odds were stacked against them. But the 21-year-old Scott Quinnell broke away from a line out, slipped through three tackles to score one of the great tries by a Welsh forward that inspired a dramatic win.
GREAT SCOTT 2 – Wales 32, England 31, Wembley, 11 April, 1999
It looked like another Grand Slam for England as the game went into the second minute of injury time. But then Chris Wyatt took the ball at a line-out in the English 22, Scott Quinnell wne ton a dummy run and Scott Gibbs took the ball at full tilt. He danced like a ballerina before bagging the try that rocked England – and presented Neil Jenkins with a match winning conversion. It went over!
NINETIES PERFORMANCES
IEUAN LEAVES RORY FOR DEAD – Wales 10, England 9, Arms Park, 6 February, 1993
England went from Grand Slam champs to title chasing chumps after slipping up against a Welsh side that tackled like demons. The sight of Ieuan Evans racing past Rory Underwood and Jon Webb was a sight for all to behold, including the Princess of Wales.
GREAT SCOTT 1 – Wales 24, France 15, Arms Park, 19 February, 1994
If you are going to end a 12 year run of defeats by the French you want to do it with some style. Enter Scott Quinnell and Nigel Walker, scorers of two great tries to sink the Tricolours.
GREAT SCOTT 2 – Wales 32, England 31, Wembley, 11 April, 1999
The Five Nations trophy had been brought out for England to collect and Clive Woodward was worrying about which way to go up the steps to collect it. Too soon Clive! As the game went into the second minute of injury time Wales conjured up a try out of nothing by Scott Gibbs that gave Neil Jenkins the chance to kick for victory. Who else would you have wanted
OOH LA LA, VICTORY IN PARIS – France 33, Wales 34, Stade de France, 6 March, 1999
You had to go back to 1975 for the last win Welsh in Paris and the omens weren't good after successive defeats to Scotland and Ireland. The French were in their new, swish home of Stade de France and wanted to turn on the style. They scored four tries, Wales three. Thomas Castaignede kicked 13 points, but Neil Jenkins scored 19.
BOKS BEATEN AT LAST – Wales 29, South Africa 19, Millennium Stadium, 26 June, 1999
If you didn't believe in fairy tales before this game, then you would have been converted by the end. The opening game at the new Millennium Stadium produced the first win over South Africa in 93 years of trying. It was the sixth of 10 wins in a row by Wales – a moment of history played out in front of 27,500 fans.
