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he eventually did, I was so happy. I'd never won any silverware and to win the Triple Crown at Twickenham was just brilliant. It was an awesome feeling for all of us. And walking around the field afterwards with the trophy was a really good feeling. That day will stay as a massive highlight of my career. It's why you play the game: to be at the highest level and win the top prizes.
    After the match, we had to go for ice treatment in our mobile cryotherapy unit, which was in the parking lot. We got out there OK, but on the way back the fans spotted us, so everybody wanted a picture. I remember walking back in as Sam was walking out. I said, ‘I wouldn't bother if I was you. You'll never get out of there.' I think he just had an ice pack!
    That whole day was a great experience. We had won the Triple Crown. But there was still a bigger prize to go for.

Chapter Five
    ITALIAN JOB DONE
    After the victory over England, we had two games left, against Italy and France, and both of them were at home. I think nearly everybody in Wales was talking Grand Slam.
    But I don't think the players were, because we are all pretty grounded. We take each game as it comes. We are not stupid and we treat each match on its own merits. We knew that we might have lost out in Ireland and indeed against England.
    So we were keeping our feet on the ground and not getting carried away. However, there was still a buzz in the camp and a good feeling going into the next game against Italy.
    But we knew we were in for a battle. In Rome, Italy had given England a really tough match. You always have to contain their massive pack and that is never easy. It was a game which, if we'd just won by just a point, we would have been happy.
    However, I always like playing against Italy because of their back row. I think Sergio Parisse, their No 8, is class. You always want to play against people like that. He's a real power player who is very dangerous. That is why you play the game, to play against the best players in the world.
    So we knew it would be another massive physical battle against Italy, particularly up front, and it certainly was that, especially in the first half. They had a young seven by the name of Simone Favaro playing and he was really good at the tackle area. He won quite a few turnovers and he was very strong too. I remember when, from a shortened lineup, he took it up and I hit him as hard as I could. As I was getting up off the floor, I was thinking ‘My shoulder is hanging off here!'
    You always know you are going to have a lot of bruises after games, but that's good. Every bump and bruise is worth it when you win. In the back row, we like to pride ourselves on being physical and destructive. When you come up against teams with a similar nature you lift your game to your best. It's a macho thing, you want to give as good as you get.
    This was another game that was pretty tight at halftime. There hadn't been a try and we were only 9–3 up. But then, after the break, Jamie Roberts ran in from a long way out. I didn't think he was going to get there because he started to slow up, but he made it. Jamie is a big character and a big player for us. He was struggling with his knee during the Six Nations and had to have an operation at the end of the season. But he managed to get through the championship and he did a great job for us.
    He and Jonathan Davies have got a great partnership going in the centre. They have got the skills to give you that allimportant goforward. They are big men, bigger than a lot of the forwards. Real battering rams.
    Jonathan Davies had a hell of a season last year. He's a quality player. A lot of the time his work goes unseen. He's a worldclass defender and such a strong guy. When he tackles, he really hits people. But he's also got the speed and the hands. He scored some quality tries last season, including two in the championship opener against Ireland, and it was good to see him get the recognition he