Jones goes for a drop in the Cardiff thriller.

Well, it's the match that everyone has been waiting for.

Almost from day one, rugby fans relished Sunday's clash between Ireland and England in Dublin and hoped it would be a Grand Slam decider.

Now they have go their wish - though only just...

When Wales half-back Stephen Jones rocketed over a 40-yard drop goal in the last minute at the Millennium Stadium, the chins of Irish players and fans alike must have hit the floor.

Ireland thought they had done just enough to secure a vital victory in Cardiff to preserve their unbeaten run only for Jones' wonder strike to put Wales 24-22 ahead with the referee checking his watch.

What followed next was even more unbelievable.

Ireland took a quick re-start, dashed downgfield and then replacement fly-half Ronan O'Gara topped Jones' feat with a drop from barely inside the Welsh half.

For a few secons, the Millennium Stadium stood in stunned silence.

Then the Tricolores began to wave and the Irish realised their Dublin showdown was on.

I mean, surely Scotland could not beat England at Twickenham?

For half an hour, the upset of all upsets looked possible.

Scotlaand had two men yellow carded inside the first 15 minutes but seemed to play even better with only 13 men on the pitch.

Only some resolute English defence kept the Scots at bay and a try from dashing Josh Lewsey gave England breathing space at 13-6 at the interval.

In the second half, it was the one-sided steamroller exhibition that we had expected from the off.

But at least, the first 40 minutes gave Ireland hope of probing some England weaknesses.

They still lacked some fluency in attack and rely a lot still on the exhiliration of Jason Robinson, the imagination of Will Greenwood and the unerring boot of Jonny Wilkinson.

Mind you, England can look on the whole 80 minutes at Cardiff and see an Irish side nervous and disjointed.

A better side than Wales would certainly have not needed the exchange of drop goals in injury time to decide the result.

So on Sunday, you pays your money and takes your chance.

Will Ireland conclude their recent rapid improvement with a Six Nations championship or will England blow another Grand Slam opportunity?

Couldn't be a better way to climax the tournament.