Wales 22 - 10 Ireland

We did it. What a fantastic game. And what a magnificent display by the Welsh team. The boys flew out of the blocks. They had criticised themselves earlier in the week for starting matches too slowly. This was not a slow start. Before we'd wiped the sleep from our eyes, Shane Williams was over the line to finish off a brilliant team try. It was converted and we were 7 nil up.

The game was frantic with both sides playing as if their lives depended on it. At half time, Wales were leading 10 - 3 but looked far from comfortable having sucked up a huge amount of Irish pressure.

Five minutes into the second half Ireland scored a converted try. 10 - 10. Now it was game on.

It was from this point on that I started to believe that this Welsh team could reach the world cup final. At 10 all, with Ireland in the ascendancy, we showed why we are the team of this tournament. The belief, passion, skill, confidence and fitness gushed through our veins. Within 6 minutes of Ireland scoring their try, the outstanding Mike Phillips scored a superb individual try to regain us the lead. From that point on, we never looked back. Final score Wales 22 - 10 Ireland. Semi finals here we come.

Today's photo is of the pub in Cardiff where we watched the match. At twenty past six in the morning! With a beer in our hands. Followed by a celebratory sambuca. Oh dear.