So a new Millennium dawned, or maybe it didn’t if you want to rehash that old argument, and with it came a new dawn for European rugby with the Italy joining the fold to create the Six Nations Championship.

Things couldn’t have started sweeter for the Azzuri as they announced their arrival in style with a comprehensive win over the defending and last 5 Nations Champions, Scotland. Led by Diego Dominguez and his hat-trick of drop goals they picked up a comfortable win.

Meanwhile at Twickenham, the hangover from Lens continued for Ireland as they shipped 50 points to England. Changes were needed fast and they duly arrived as Scotland were next up for Gatland’s side, whose job was on the line, 4 new caps and suddenly things were looking up as Ireland beat Scotland for the first time since 1988.

Momentum was gained with a hiding of Italy and then onto Paris where having lost every game since 1972, Brian O’Driscoll announced his arrival on the world scene with that hat-trick. England looked well set to win their first grand slam in 5 years having done the hard job of winning in Paris, but Budge Poutney’s rain dance did the trick and the heavens opened to give a glimmer of hope to the hapless Scots, which they surely took to deny England the slam and win the Calcutta Cup for the first time in 10 years.

Foot and Mouth was the dominant factor the following year as both Ireland and England won their first 2 matches and a grand slam decider in mid-March looked a distinct possibility, with O’Driscoll scoring the Try of BOD in the second game at home to the French.

Jonny Wilkinson meanwhile was setting the world alight scoring a championship record of 35 points against the Italians. While Ireland sat looking from the outside England were made to wait till the following October to complete their grand slam dream against Ireland, while Gatland’s charges faced 3 championship matches in the late Autumn. With Scotland up first, Ireland were out of their depth and a thrashing followed the first death knell in Gatland's Ireland coffin.

It was England’s slam for the taking now but with Johnson ruled out and England foolishly using the Lions lineout calls, it was Ireland’s turn to complete the Celtic denial of England’s grand slam. A forlorn Dawson and Johnson couldn't even force a smile as they collected their trophy, while Ireland were content to do their lap of honour. Showed the difference between the mentalities of the sides. For comedy gold though Troncon’s flooring of Stringer had to be up there as one of the great moments of the decade!

The French would then thwart England’s efforts a year later, with Betsen’s heavy hits on Wilkinson a huge factor as they won in Paris. Graham Henry would see his reign with Wales come to an end after Ireland cruised to a 44 point victory. Yet it was surprisingly the Welsh who gave the French their biggest scare, on the back of that performance in Dublin, they were only denied at the death by the French from making a magnificent comeback in a pulsating game in Cardiff.

France completed the Grand Slam in style with a heavy defeat of Ireland in Paris, who failed to deliver on the promise they had shown in the Autumn. The year also saw the final commentary of the voice of rugby as Bill McLaren hung up his mic and retired after 50 years of service to the BBC. The championship also proved it did not need the bonus point system as had it been in place, England would have won the championship despite the French winning the Grand Slam.

World Cup year and England had a score to settle, very impressive the previous Autumn, they were again the team to beat despite not being defending champions. They started impressively against the French at Twickenham and only a late fight back from Les Bleus made the score line closer. Italy picked up their first win over Wales in what was a precursor to a crucial world cup game between the sides, luckily for Wales history didn’t repeat itself in Canberra.

Ireland, also on the back of an impressive Autumn campaign, started very well with 2 away wins in Scotland and Italy, squeezed out the French in a tight encounter at Lansdowne and the drama was high octane in Cardiff as a drop goal in injury time gave the Welsh the lead, only for Ireland to respond straight away with one of their own and Hickie’s crucial charge down ensured the first winner takes all grand slam decider in 8 years. Sadly though there wasn’t much of a contest as England, inspired by Will Greenwood blew Ireland away. It would be sour grapes to blame it on the antics of Johnson before the match, but everyone loves a pantomime villain!

Post world cup and the hangover well and truly sank in for England, with key players retired or injured and a coach who seemed to be in semi-retirement, they lacked the intensity that had seen them sweep all before them the seasons previous. Ireland took full advantage in claiming their scalp at Twickenham in a tense championship encounter which Gordon D’Arcy lit up in setting up Girvan Dempsey’s try. Coupled with a win over Wales, Ireland were on course for their first triple crown since 1985 and duly delivered with a win over the Scots at Lansdowne Road. However Ireland would fall short in the championship yet again as it was the French who landed their second grand slam in 3 years, sealed with a win over England in the final match in Paris. It wouldn’t be the last time Yachvili orchestrated a win over Les Rosbifs!

Wales were in danger of turning into one of the whipping boys of the Six Nations with a 3rd place finish their best showing in the expanded tournament. Well they set that right and then some with their first grand slam since 1978, led by the perma tanned Orange Osprey that they call Henson, whose might boot slay the challenge of the English Knights and whose arrogance got under the skin of their Celtic Brethren in the final challenge at the Millennium Stadium. However it was another man called Jones who inspired the Welsh in Paris as they came out a different side in the second half, having given an abject performance in the second half, Scotland were duly disposed of in Edinburgh and Ireland only offered a whimper on the final day.

France would continue their habit of winning the Championship in even numbered years but very nearly didn’t as Ireland failed to match the comeback of the Welsh the previous year in Paris. However they weren’t 40 points down at one stage and never had Geordan Murphy playing at full back! Italy claimed their first point away from home with a draw in Cardiff but could have been more had they shown a bit more ambition at the end and not settled for a point.

A second triple crown for Ireland was secured in dramatic fashion at Twickenham, as trailing by 4 points with only minutes remaining Ireland countered and Shane Horgan’s outstretched arm just managed to get the ball over the line. They even made a new shiny trophy for the occasion! Nigel Whitehouse also added to the drama by not turning his watch on until the restart rather than once the try was given, but a bit of tension does no harm, unless you were Irish! It was France’s championship though despite their early stumble in Edinburgh, Yachvili yet again proving crucial in France’s thrashing of England, which ultimately gave them the championship as Ireland couldn’t close the points difference in their final game at Lansdowne Road against Scotland.

All roads led to France and Wales and Scotland, but they only had bit parts to play. Still though the Championship needed to be sorted before thoughts could turn to Web Ellis. Ireland had a new home but the same old hope of winning their first grand slam since 1949, not to be though as Vincent Clerc broke Irish hearts with a last minute try just after Ireland had taken a 4 point lead in the dying moments, yet again the Bridesmaid! Italy would get their first away win with victory gifted to them by the Scots at Murrayfield while the first visit of England to GAA HQ saw them roundly beaten and sent home with their tails between their legs.

Despite Ireland’s failure against France, the championship had the most fantastic climax as Ireland destroyed the Italians in Rome, scoring tries for fun, however when pushing for another try Ireland let the Italians in for a consolation try, how crucial would that prove. Ireland had given themselves a shot at their first championship since 1985, but they would be denied as in the last play of the game France pushed for the try which would give them the trophy, McDowell saw no reason not to give the try and the championship was France’s. Yet again for Ireland, so close but no cigar and a third triple crown was scant consolation.

With England and France having had successful world cups few would have bet against them dominating the following Six Nations, not many would have given Wales a prayer given that they didn’t even get out of their pool but the appointment of Gatland and Edwards gave the Welsh some steel and they laid a marker down by winning at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years. The composure of Gatland was certainly coming across in the team as they never seemed too phased about anything, personified by the performances of Shane Williams, who would go on to take the IRB player of the year.

The press tried to make something out of Gatland’s return to Ireland yet nothing major came of it, perhaps Gatland felt he shouldn’t shoot a dog while he’s down, leave that to the English! Croke Park certainly didn’t faze them as they left with the Triple Crown in tow, onto Cardiff for bigger things, which they duly delivered in giving the French their first defeat at the hands of the Welsh in the Millennium Stadium.

Wales looked top dogs heading into the final championship of the decade, Lievremont looked hapless in charge of the French and who knew what to make of the new Irish and English coaches, Kidney and Johnson respectively. Ireland looked a spent force if the Autumn campaign was any indication while Wales looked a decent bet to do back to back Grand Slams, especially with Ireland and England at home and a good recent record in Paris. Ireland upset the form book though, as unlike 2007 they didn’t blow the game against the French, instead managing to secure a crucial restart once Les Bleus looked like mounting a comeback. 2 games gone and it was looking like a Wales Ireland winner takes all match in Cardiff.

While Wales fell to defeat in Paris, Ireland scraped past England and did enough in Scotland to keep their grand slam dream alive. Gatland’s mouthing off in the press added to the occasion but Kidney’s stoic silence slayed that Welsh/Kiwi Dragon’s onslaught and then some. If we thought things were dramatic in 2007, 2009 was off the charts as an incredible game of rugby came down to the most dramatic of finishes. Unbearable tension but Jones didn’t give it enough welly and in falling short with that final penalty Ireland had finally shed their bridesmaid tag. 61 years of pressure was laid to rest and Jackie Kyle could breathe easier in the stands in Cardiff knowing he’d finally see another side emulate his achievements of 1948.