Warren Gatland has steered Wales to a remarkable Grand Slam © Getty Images

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Matches: Wales 29 - 12 France

Wales captain Ryan Jones congratulated his Grand Slam winners on delivering the memories his country craved with today's RBS 6 Nations-clinching success against France. The hosts, needing only to avoid a landslide defeat at the hands of the only team who could pip them to the title, instead ran out 29-12 winners at the Millennium Stadium.

Jones told BBC1: "It is absolutely amazing. We talked all along about people having dreams - and what bigger memories than this! We have defended superbly, and that is what has won us the championship.''

Flanker Martyn Williams spoke of the hard work which has gone in, today and throughout the campaign, to deliver Wales's second Grand Slam in four seasons.

"It is an unbelievable feeling. Thirty or 40 people have worked so hard for this, and the crowd were unbelievable again today,'' he said. "We had to dig deep in the first half, especially."

Wales' record try-scorer Shane Williams appropriately got on the scoresheet again, with a 60th-minute touchdown. But the wing admitted afterwards: "I found it difficult getting involved in the game - it was so tight - and the try was one in a million."

Wales' fortunes have been transformed since a disappointing World Cup campaign late last year, and many have traced the improvement to the input of new coaching team Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards.

"It just goes to show how hard we have worked since the World Cup," added Williams, before a light-hearted nod to the famed no-nonsense approach of former rugby league great and assistant coach Edwards. "It's probably down to the fact that everyone is scared senseless of Shaun," he suggested.

Edwards himself, and Gatland, insisted all the plaudits should go to the players. "We have improved every game, and I could not be more proud of them," said Englishman Edwards. "It is beyond my wildest dreams."

New Zealander Gatland reflected on a job well done. "At the end of the day, it is all about the players," he told BBC1. They are the ones who have a job to do for 80 minutes. A lot of those players have had it pretty tough for the last six or 12 months. When they get the reward, they deserve the recognition.

"To have only conceded two tries in this competition makes this Grand Slam thoroughly deserved."