Rugby fans in Wales are gearing up for another possible but unique Grand Slam Saturday. Just France and Wales remain in consideration for the Six Nations title, with Scotland hosting Italy and England visiting Dublin as appetizers before the main course in Paris. With a victory, Wales will claim their fifth Grand Slam in the Six Nations period. This will be the first without fans at the game due to Covid-19.

It remains to be seen if events will be resolved on 'Super Saturday,' with Scotland still scheduled to fly to Paris on March 26. Because of Covid-19 cases in the France camp, the original game in February was canceled.

Wales will be crowned champions if they draw, but they could lose and still win the title if they pick up a bonus point while France does not. Things can get complicated till they reach the final match.

What is certain is that Wayne Pivac's team will remove any uncertainty by winning a 13th Grand Slam in Paris, equaling England's record.

Grand plans

Six Nations finals in Wales have always kept a special place in my heart. Wales has won more Six Nations Grand Slams than anybody else in recent years. Cardiff is no stranger to hosting such a momentous occasion. The bars would usually be lined, and the streets would be thronged with fans cheering on their rugby heroes.

As the country went wild to celebrate the end of a 27-year wait for a Grand Slam, fans climbed trees outside City Hall to catch a glimpse of the game on a big screen. But in the present scenario, there will be no gatherings at the Principality Stadium, on city streets, or in rugby clubs in Wales.

There will be no anonymous people hugging one another in red, no singing Welsh rugby anthems, and no shoes stuck to the floor of crowded pubs. Instead of a stadium-bound Six Nations spectacular, viewers will be confined to their living rooms around the country to watch the fifth Grand Slam victory in 16 years.

Wales last won a clean sweep away from Cardiff 50 years ago, when all-time greats Barry John, Gareth Edwards, and JPR Williams helped the class of 1971 beat France in Paris. After those glorious days, the Grand Slam carnival days have all been in Cardiff, with six victories between 1976 and 2019.

Edwards, Phil Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams, Martyn Williams, and Alun Wyn Jones became legends as a result of their victories against France, with two victories against Ireland in 2005 and 2019.

The players would have to achieve this feat in front of Stade de France crowd of 81,000 spectators. Only players, backroom staff, stewards, and a few members of the media will be present in the arena.

When the players sing the anthems, Wales captain Jones says they will be thinking about their country. "It's not lost on you," Jones said, "There is a small difference with it being away. I, as a person, and the team, don't need to be a reminder about who we are against or whom we're serving."

Wayne's world

After a frustrating 2020, in which Wales finished fifth in the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup, and won three out of ten games. This is a Grand Slam day few had predicted. Pivac had a difficult time replacing Warren Gatland, a fellow New Zealander who had overseen three Grand Slam victories and two World Cup semi-finals.

Last November, Pivac parted ways with his long-time ally and defense mentor, Byron Hayward, and replaced him with Gethin Jenkins. He benched George North during the autumn campaign, then reintroduced him and moved him from wing to middle.

North has earned over 100 caps for Wales and is now a member of the nation's most experienced team, led by world record cap holder Alun Wyn Jones.

Kieran Hardy, Louis Rees-Zammit, Callum Sheedy, and James Botham are among the young players who have participated in this Six Nations campaign.

The first two wins, against Ireland and Scotland, were accomplished with 14 men after Peter O'Mahony and Zander Fagerson were sent off and the first two tries against England were controversially awarded.

The luck claim ignores the 17 tries scored in four games and the 40 points scored against Eddie Jones' 2020 champions, which set a new record.

Wales' performance in the 2021 Six Nations has been built on stronger foundations, including a good set-piece, clinical finishing, and excellent discipline. They also have a strong track record in the recent Grand Slam finals.