February 26 down the years
Williams double inspires Wales
Martyn Williams celebrates victory over France on this day in 2005
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2005
Two early second-half tries by Martyn Williams kept alive Welsh hopes of a Grand Slam as they came from behind to beat France 24-18 in Paris. France had stormed ahead in the first-half thanks to Aurelien Rougerie and Dimitri Yachvili's tries, and Wales had looked dead and buried at the break. Williams' tries were a thrilling, unexpected riposte, one coming after a rollicking break from fly-half Stephen Jones, who would seal the win with a nerveless penalty and drop-goal. His joyous hack behind to end the game also closed out a painfully intense closing period as the French scrum inched closer to the Welsh posts and a penalty try.
2006
Scott Johnson took over as caretaker coach from Mike Ruddock but saw his Welsh side blasted by Ireland in Dublin. The Six Nations encounter ended in a 31-5 defeat for the reigning champions. Shane Horgan, David Wallace and Peter Stringer scored tries for Ireland, while Gavin Henson played his first Test since the Lions' 2005 debacle in New Zealand, coming on for an unimpressive stint at fullback.
1887
Scotland's George Lindsay scored five tries - the record that still stands for an International Championship match - in his side's victory over Wales at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh. Scotland won 4-0 thanks to conversions from Alexander Woodrow and Charles Berry.
2009
England prop Matt Stevens was banned from all rugby for two years after failing a drugs test. Stevens was handed the 'prescribed sanction' after his sample was found to contain metabolites of cocaine.
1927
The Ireland-Scotland fixture was played in such extreme conditions in Dublin that an Irish centre was reported as being in a state of collapse from exposure at the end of the match. Jim Ganly and Theodore Pike scored Irish tries in a 6-0 victory.
1955
French flanker and captain Jean Prat dropped two goals in a 16-9 win against England at Twickenham.
1972
France closed a long chapter in their rugby history with a devastating 37-12 win against England in the last Test ever staged at Stade Colombes in Paris, scene of the 1924 Chariots of Fire Olympic Games. Winger Bernard Duprat was England's main antagonist, scoring twice.
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