Evans: ‘I think I’m in a bit of trouble now going head-to-head with Scott Gibbs!’

Ieuan Evans is the first to admit that more people want to talk to him about his try against England in 1993 than any other he scored for Wales.

But the former record Welsh try-scorer’s epic high-speed, kick-and-chase effort that stopped English hopes of making it a hat-trick of Grand Slams is neither his favourite of the 33 Test tries he scored for his country, nor the pick of the nation.

His race onto Emyr Lewis’ pin-point kick ahead may have led to a famous 10-9 victory over the auld enemy 27 years ago, but it couldn’t get him past Josh Adams’ 2019 score against the white-shirted invaders in the first round of our ‘Greatest Ever Welsh Try’ competition.

In the closest battle in the first round, Adams’ aerial acrobatics as he leapt to catch Dan Biggar’s cross-kick just about carried the day – 2,554 to 2,158.

“The try against England always gets talked about more than any other I scored because of the occasion. It represents a moment in time that nobody has forgotten,” said Evans.

“Welsh rugby wasn’t in a great place at the time and England were really dominant. They were expected to come in Cardiff and roll us over.

“The atmosphere was electric from the start. Princess Diana was at the game, opera star Jason Howard led the anthem and there was something in the air.

“My try came in the first-half to give us that one-point lead and there was no scoring in the second half. We got through on emotion, passion and character in the end – we refused to yield.”

But as memorable an occasion as that was, Evans’s try on that day didn’t measure up to his other entry in the competition. That was the sidestepping masterclass against Scotland in 1988.

That try earned him a quarter-final place as it topped Keith Jarrett’s dramatic debut effort up the North Stand touchline against England in 1967 – 3,515 votes to 1,197.

That was the third highest total for any of the 16 selected tries behind Phil Bennett’s 1977 classic at Murrayfield and Scott Gibbs’ never-to-be-forgotten Wembley wonder in 1999 that denied England another Grand Slam.

“The try against the Scots is a much better try than the one against England,” said Evans, who was compared to ‘Merlin the Magician’ by legendary BBC commentator, Bill McLaren.

“It was a sensational game, full throttle from start to finish, and I certainly enjoyed scoring that one. It’s nice to see it get so many votes, but I think I’m in a bit of trouble now going head-to-head with Scott Gibbs!”

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Source: Welsh Rugby