Ireland held the record for registering the earliest Triple Crown with their 19-18 victory over Ireland at Murrayfield on 10 March, 2007. And they also have the fastest Home Nations hat-trick on record in the 111 championships played to date with their 21-12 win over Scotland at Lansdowne Road on 20 February, 1982.
But a third successive win for Wales in the 2012 Championship on Saturday, 25 February, allowed Warburton’s men to claim Wales 20th Triple Crown. And in so doing they also shaved 13 days off the current record.
The 19-12 victory also gave Wales their first Triple Crown triumph on English soil. Only once before had the men in red travelled to Twickenham Stadium with a chance of clinching a Triple Crown – and they left with their tails between their legs after an 15-8 defeat.
England still lead the way in both the Triple Crown, Grand Slam and Championship stakes with 23, 12 and 26 respectively. Wales are second with 20 Triple Crowns, 10 Grand Slams and 24 Championship titles, although only a third win in 25 years at the home of English rugby has edged them ever closer to England’s records.
Wales’ earliest Triple Crown was clinched at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, 21 February, 1977, with a crunching 34-9 victory over Ireland. Twice they have taken the Crown by beating England in Cardiff – 30-9 in 1969 and 27-3 in 1979.
“It is an unbelievable feeling. We didn’t play well and we always knew it was going to be the toughest game in the Six Nations,” said man of the match Warburton.
“It was one hell of a Test match. We didn’t take any notice of the media reports that made us favourites history told us just how tough a place Twickenham is to come to and win.
“When we went down to 14 men we just wanted to keep the ball among the forwards. We didn’t have another outside half option on the field and so Leigh Halfpenny stepped in and did a great job for those 10 minutes.
“We have Italy at home in two weeks time and that is now a must win game for us. We will enjoy the Triple Crown triumph and then get back to some hard work.”
