Two-try hero Alex Cuthbert has lavished praise on the Wales forwards for setting up a biggest victory over England in 132 years.
Cardiff Blues wing Cuthbert took his try tally to an impressive seven in the last nine Six Nations games as Wales were crowned champions for a second successive season.
Cuthbert’s second-half double he touched down twice in 10 minutes underlined Welsh dominance and sent England spinning to their heaviest Six Nations defeat since 2007, a 30-3 humiliation.
“I was fortunate enough to get on the end of two tries, but I have got to give full credit to the forwards they were unbelievable,” he said.
“They have been unbelievable the whole tournament. They are the bunch of guys who have won us the tournament.
“I am just glad I took my opportunities. I said in the week it would come down to a couple of chances and whoever took them, took them. I’m thankful we took them.”
Asked if it was the best Wales performance he had been part of, 18 times-capped Cuthbert added: “The forwards were on fire they sort of bullied England. I felt in command from the start, and it was just a matter of time before we broke through and took our chance.
“We were clinical. We had two or three chances in the second half and we took everything, especially the (Dan Biggar) drop-goal which secured things.”
Cuthbert scored the only try of last season’s Grand Slam-clinching victory over France in Cardiff.
But although Wales did not complete a clean sweep this time around, courtesy of an opening weekend defeat against Ireland, their sense of achievement was not diminished.
“It feels like a bigger achievement than last year,” Cuthbert said.
“Last year against France it was quite tight and it was just us in the game, whereas this time England were striving for the Grand Slam and we were striving for the championship, which made it such a mouth-watering match.”
England coach Stuart Lancaster vowed to hold his nerve and keep building a young England team towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He maintained England are on the right path.
“I do believe the journey we are on and the plan we have is the right one,” Lancaster said.
“We had a lot of over 30-year-olds at the 2011 World Cup and we needed to develop new players. We have had more ups than downs. This is a down but we will hold our nerve and stick with the plan because I believe it will come good.”
* Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll will learn by this afternoon whether he will face disciplinary proceedings for his stamp on Simone Favaro in the 22-15 RBS 6 Nations defeat by Italy.
Citing commissioner Aurwel Morgan of the Welsh Rugby Union has until 2.30pm to decide if the offence, which saw O’Driscoll sent to the sin-bin on the half-hour mark, warrants further action.
O’Driscoll lifted his right leg and brought it down on to the chest of Favaro, the Italy openside, who yelled out in pain and writhed around on the Stadio Olimpico turf before looking up to the touchline.