Their first match of the 1989 championship saw the Welsh travel to Scotland, shipping a 237 defeat. Ireland, meanwhile, started their season with an epic encounter against the French at Lansdowne Road, almost pulling off the shock of the year before eventually losing 26-21, after two tries from Patrice Lagisquet.

So Ireland travelled to Cardiff with hope of completing three successive victories over the Welsh at Cardiff Arms Park reignited. A dour opening half ended with the Welsh leading 60, thanks to the boot of Paul Thorburn. After a couple of missed kicks, Michael Kiernan finally got Ireland on the scoreboard five minutes into the second half. Some fussy refereeing by Englishman Roger Quittenton allowed him to add another two before the 12-minute mark to give his side the lead.

An aggrieved Wales came marauding towards the Irish 22, where a fly kick from Bledwyn Bowen was blocked and gathered by Noel Mannion.

Looking up, Mannion saw nobody between himself and the Welsh line. With an entire defence chasing him, Mannion managed to outrun them all on his 70-yard dash, scoring one of Ireland's most famous tries and not getting back up again for quite some time.

Seemingly disoriented by what they had just witnessed, Ireland allowed Wales straight back into the game, with a penalty and a Mark Jones try drawing them level at 13 apiece. But a controversial try, scored by Paul Dean after David Irwin had clearly knocked on, gave Ireland a lead they wouldn't relinquish, and a remarkable three in a row at the Arms Park.