By Bruce Pope

Take one proud rugby nation, add nearly three decades of waiting, a large pinch of nostalgia and a bucket of Six Nations expectation.

That's the mix that awaits Wales this Saturday when they attempt to win their first Grand Slam since 1978.

There have been two near misses, and championships in 1988 and 1994 when France and then England were the Slam kill-joys.

But Wales great Phil Bennett believes it will be third-time lucky when Ireland arrive at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Every time Wales get the ball they look like they are going to score and I think they are going to be Grand Slam champions Wales great Phil Bennett

Bennett's boot and captaincy led Wales to glory the last time 27 years ago, when a France side containing the likes of Jean-Pierre Rives, Jean-Claude Skrela and Jean-Pierre Bastiat were beaten 16-7 in Cardiff.

But Bennett freely admits that his Wales side had to dig deepest in the penultimate match in Dublin.

"It was a huge match," said the former fly-half, who won 29 caps for Wales and eight for the British and Irish Lions.

"We were going for the triple Triple Crown. It was a very dirty game where Ireland came at us and we did very well to win that game - the forwards were magnificent."

And Bennett, who once held the Test points scoring world record, admits he was under extra personal pressure when he ran out to face France in the Grand Slam decider.

"It was very nerve-wracking for me because I'd decided before the game that I was going to retire, but I hadn't told anyone," he said.

"Against a great French side who had won the Grand Slam the season before, we managed to win the Grand Slam.

"I knew going off that field it would be my last time ever at Cardiff Arms Park as a Welsh international, so I was very relieved we'd won the Grand Slam.

To win in France was a magnificent achievement France 18-24 Wales

"When I got into the dressing room I was one of the first in with Gareth Edwards.

"I shook his hand and said 'Gareth, it's been a privilege, I'm retiring' and he said 'Blinking heck, so am I!' - it was an incredible moment in my rugby career."

The current Wales crop had their backs to the wall in this season's third round, when France all but ripped them to pieces in the first 40 minutes at Stade de France.

But an amazing turnaround after the break saw Wales hit back with two tries from Martyn Williams, then absorb ferocious French pressure to win 24-18.

"The transformation was magnificent and the style of play was outstanding. To win in France was a magnificent achievement," Bennett added.

One of Wales' greatest ever half-backs admits that in recent years he was at a loss to understand how Wales had fallen so far from his golden era.

Wales won seven championship titles in the then Five Nations championship between 1969 and 1979, with '71, '76 and '78 yielding Grand Slams.

Just two seasons ago Wales were in disarray, picking up the Wooden Spoon as they finished winless in the Six Nations.

"But here we are going for the Grand Slam and I must admit it's taken a lot of believing, but it's there for all to see on Saturday," Bennett said.

"The hype has been incredible and I hope (Wales coach) Mike Ruddock has banned the players from reading the papers because all the nation want them to do so very, very well.

"But they're so young, so confident in their own ability that I don't think the hype will get to them and I think they'll take this in their stride.

"Even if they do go points down, every time they get the ball they look like they are going to score and I think they are going to be Grand Slam champions."

Mike Ruddock has done a great job making them believe Wales at full strength for Irish Ireland unchanged for Cardiff Pick your Wales XV

While Bennett admits that expectation is weighing more heavily on the current side, he believes that will work in Wales' favour inside the stadium when the match reaches a crucial point.

"In 1978 we were struggling with about 15 minutes to go, it had been a hard season and we were very tired but all of a sudden the crowd burst out into song.

"I think they felt we were tired and this was the song to lift us and I said to the boys 'we can't lose today', so we lifted our game and won the Slam.

"Saturday will be one of the most emotional occasions ever at the Millennium Stadium.

"There will be so many Welshmen turning up praying for this Grand Slam and I think the crowd will have a huge part to play, because if things do start to go wrong then they will get behind the team and lift them."

So apart from vocal, passionate supporters, what else does a Grand Slam-winning team need?

"First of all you've got to be talented, secondly you've got to be very, very confident but most of all you've got to have a great coaching staff.

"Mike Ruddock has done a great job making them believe and play for Wales again, and I think that belief and the want to satisfy the nation will see them through on Saturday."