WALES can win the Grand Slam tomorrow -- if they play it the Welsh way, says the Gwent man who coached the last team to achieve the feat in 1978, seven years after he captained his country to the Grand Slam as well.

This most decorated of rugby men is John Dawes, born and brought up in Abercarn and a centre with Newbridge before going on to enjoy a highly successful career with London Welsh, Wales and the British Lions.

Dawes, in fact, is the only man to have captained and coached Wales to the Grand Slam and led the British Lions to a series triumph in New Zealand (1971) then coached them as well (1977).

He epitomised everything that was great about the teams of the 70s, for he insisted on the ball being kept alive, was a wonderful passer and played a key role in the finest try of all time scored by Gareth Edwards for the Barbarians in the classic against New Zealand in 1973.

He urges Wales to play in the same vein they have right through the Six Nations against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow, and believes they will at last emulate the sides of the 70s if they do.

"It's exciting to see Wales playing this way again, they are the most exciting team in the championship," said Dawes, who has lived in Cardiff for many years.

"It's been hard and frustrating because Wales have not been getting the results or playing the type of game we have been associated with, so there has been little pleasure in watching Wales for years," he lamented.

"But these things go in cycles, we've been through the lean years which seemed as though they'd last forever and apart from one or two moments we seemed to be going nowhere, especially after our history.

"But I like the type of rugby Wales are playing again, they're looking for space rather than the man and they can go through 13 phases whereas in our day we tried to have one.

"The signs were there in the World Cup when we decided to have a go, not exactly throw caution to the wind, and it suits them.

"We don't produce big men, like England do, we have skills and we try to use them. Physically today Shane Williams and Rhys Williams compare with Gerald Davies, but they have got their own stamp and it's pleasing there's more than one of them.

"This Welsh team seem able to do it from all positions and it's glorious to see the offloading against Scotland, the nation is buoyant again.

"Beating England was the barrier they had to overcome, they were world champions and the team to beat. Now Wales have done it they have gained in confidence enormously and they don't fear anyone."

Dawes believes the Ireland game will be Wales' toughest, but that they can do it.

"France opened some cracks against the Irish, but they have got power up front and pace and guile behind so Wales will have to play well for 80 minutes," he said.

"We have got to do it the way we've been playing, we can't do it any other way. This will be the hardest because Ireland have brought discipline, they don't panic or give away silly penalties.

"Before last Saturday they were probably the best team in the championship and the fact that we can beat them speaks volumes for Mike Ruddock as coach.

"Ireland will have a slight advantage if it's a tight game, but if we play the way we want to we can win, there's no point in coming second.

"Then they'll be rugby immortals. The Grand Slam doesn't happen often and in 20 years time people will be talking about them.

"But if the players start thinking that before the game they'll come unstuck. They've got to think about the type of game they're going to play then sit back and say 'we've done it.' That's when they can reflect."