In the immediate post-war era, Wales and Ireland clashed at Ravenhill Belfast in 1948. London Irish prop forward John Daly was carried off shoulder-high, minus his jersey that was torn to shreds by excited Irish supporters after his try had given Ireland their first Triple Crown since 1899 and took them to their one and only Grand Slam in history.
It was the brilliant Jackie Kyle, a fly half with guile and grace, who provided the spark that pushed the Irish to the title. He was ably served by Ernie Strathdee and his magnificent Musketeers;Â the back-row of Jim McKay, Des O’Brien (later a Cardiff captain) and the blond bombshell Jimmy McCarthy.
Kyle made the running for wing Barney Mullan to score a try before a typical side-stepping run by star centre. Bleddyn Williams equalised, then, seven minutes into the second spell it was Daly who became a national hero. The exile prop grabbed the ball after a kick from a lineout and no Welshman could hold him.
It was the seventh and final test for Daly, who had served as an engineer in World War Two. He transferred to Huddesfield Rugby League club later that year and in 1952 played for Featherstone Rovers in a Wembley Cup final. He died in 1988, one month short of his seventy-second birthday.
