SLAM-TASTIC! That was the verdict of rugby fans as Wales head towards a possible Grand Slam this weekend after yesterday"s victory over Scotland.

Pubs and clubs across Gwent were packed for the game, including Blaina"s Bar 98, run by Mike Ruddock"s niece Louise Davies.

Louise"s mother Colleen, Mike"s sister, was there to help out behind the bar. She admitted to having some pre-match nerves.

"I"ll be spending most of the game in the kitchen because I can"t bear to watch," she said.

Fears of a Scottish upset were soon vanquished as the Wales boys starting scoring tries early in the first half.

Afterwards Colleen was not getting carried away with her brother"s chances of taking Wales to their first Grand Slam for 27 years.

"I"m a bit disappointed with the second half," she said.

"I don"t think Michael will be too happy with that after such a good start. I think they can win the Grand Slam but I don"t like to tempt fate."

For the Ruddock family it will be a question of divided loyalties next Saturday, as Mike"s mother Peggy and his wife Bernadette are both Irish.

Colleen said: "Normally I think my mother would support Ireland but she will definitely be supporting Mike. A little bit of her will be with Ireland, but she will want Wales to win because she is so proud of him."

Louise said: "It was a great game. Now I"m just looking forward to next week."

Elsewhere in Gwent, fans flocked to pubs to watch the game. Gill Moon, landlady at the Handpost Hotel, Newport, said: "It was absolutely chock-a-block and there was a brilliant atmosphere. You couldn"t get anybody else in here. I can"t wait for the next game."

Jan Hucker, landlord of the Carpenters Arms in St Illtyd said: "It was a good atmosphere and we had a good crowd. Everyone was happy."