By Sean Davies

Since their 1978 triumph, Wales have twice fallen at the final Grand Slam hurdle, so what can the heartache teach them?

In 1988, a young, exciting Jonathan Davies-inspired Wales side welcomed France on the final weekend of the Championship.

Then, in 1994, another devil-may-care team, including powerful back-row man Emyr Lewis, travelled to Twickenham with the ultimate northern hemisphere prize in sight.

Both sides fell agonisingly short, but do Davies and Lewis feel the class of 2005 can go that step further?

The first thing I remember about the day was the atrocious weather.

Jonathan Davies on the Grand Slam trail in 1988

We had played attractive rugby all season, beating England at Twickenham, then Scotland at home, before scrapping out a win at a windy Lansdowne Road.

But when we got up for the Grand Slam game it was bucketing down. There was no roof on the stadium in those days so it was a very heavy pitch and it spoilt our game plan.

France had a big, heavy pack, so it suited them and they got in front with the help of a Jean-Patrick Lescarboura try.

I had a break-out with a drop-out 22 right at the end, but we couldn't get over and ended up losing by a point.

The squad just seemed very similar to the Welsh set-up now, with a great team spirit, the boys enjoying each other's company and having a smile on their faces.

This year they all seem to be happy, enjoying the environment they're in, and I just hope they can go that one step further than we managed.

There's no way you can't think of the Grand Slam in the build-up, especially with all the media pressure, but they have to see it as just one more match and go out there to play their natural game.

The preparations won't be that much different. They'll focus on Ireland and know that the attacking threat is coming from Brian O'Driscoll and the visitors' pack.

The Welsh pack has improved immensely over the last 12 months. I was worried before France and Scotland, but I'm quietly confident that now they've come this far they're capable of winning.

Whatever the camp may be saying, there's no way you can fail to concentrate on a Grand Slam leading up to a game like this.

A sheepish Ieuan Evans wins the Five Nations in 1994

In 1994, we were saying it was our chance for greatness. We're only human - you just have to look at things in that way.

Having said that, the boys have to try to treat Ireland like a normal game and not let the pressure of the occasion get to them.

In 1994, we let England get on top with Tim Rodber and Rory Underwood tries, before a late Nigel Walker score ensured we at least won the Championship.

That was not any consolation. I remember Ieuan Evans going up to get the trophy and it just didn't feel right, getting beaten but still winning silverware.

The Grand Slam was what we really wanted, and hopefully this group of boys can go out there and emulate the greats of the 1970s.

Against Scotland, Wales were scintillating in the first half, playing at such a tempo with the handling between forwards and backs that the opposition just couldn't live with us.

We've only played for 40 minutes against each of France and Scotland, but if we can maintain it for 80 minutes against Ireland we can win.

I'm sure that Wales coach Mike Ruddock will have got hold of the boys and said, 'Listen, it all comes down to one game, make sure you do it on Saturday'