However, they began that year’s Championship with a daunting trip to face England at Twickenham (see the British Pathé highlights here).
The visitors were captained by the legendary Cliff Morgan who to this day is regarded as one of the greatest outside-halves to have played the game of rugby union.
England’s forwards gave their visitors a torrid time but Wales’ backs were a different class with Russell Robins scoring a breakaway try while Lynn Davies sealed a notable 8-3 victory with a score on his Test debut.
Wales enjoyed some home comforts in round two as they fought their way to a 9-3 win over Scotland.
But there was to be no Grand Slam or Triple Crown that year as Wales were outgunned by a strong Irish outfit 11-3 in Dublin.
Their response to that reversal was impressive as Wales bounced back in emphatic fashion and were crowned champions with another hard-fought 5-3 triumph over France at the old National Stadium in Cardiff.
After being outmuscled in Dublin, the Welsh selectors had made changes in the pack. It paid off as they took the game to an enormous French pack in ferocious fashion after initially falling behind early on to a Les Bleus try.
Wales hit back with a speculative kick from hugely gifted scrum-half Onllwyn Brace which was gathered and scored by Derek Williams.
Garfield Owen was successful with the conversion which prompted scenes of joy both on and off the field.
