IRELAND V WALES:WALES STAND-IN skipper Martyn Williams has hailed Test centurion-in-waiting Brian O'Driscoll as the "greatest" player of his generation ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash at Croke Park.
Williams has taken over the captain’s armband for only the seventh time in his career from calf-injury victim Ryan Jones for the showdown in Dublin.
But the veteran flanker, who played alongside Ireland centre O’Driscoll on a trio of British and Irish Lions tours in 2001, ’05 and ’09, has lavished praise on his opposite leader who will notch up a milestone 100th cap.
The 34-year-old said: “Brian is without doubt, the best player in the Northern Hemisphere in the last decade. In fact, he’s one of the best ever and that includes the Lions, Europe and the world.
“For me, there is nothing he can’t do. Sometimes you get players who are good defenders or have good passing skills but Brian has the complete package. I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s an unbelievable player.”
It will be an afternoon of celebration for both captains with Cardiff Blues openside Williams also making history by overtaking Colin Charvis as Wales’ most-capped forward on 95 international appearances.
The familiarity will not finish there with almost two-thirds of the starting line-ups selected by coaches Declan Kidney and Warren Gatland present on last summer’s tour to South Africa.
But Williams insists while any wounds were healed between the two Celtic nations on the High Veldt following Gatland’s stinging comments towards the Irish prior to the Grand Slam decider in Cardiff, old friendships will be put to one side for 80 minutes.
Williams added: “We all know each other well through playing in the Magners League and, of course, the majority of us were on tour together in the summer.
“Everyone got on brilliantly out in South Africa and it has been well-documented how good a tour it was off the field.
“But once the whistle has gone on Saturday, it’s largely irrelevant. We have a job to do on the field.
“Ireland are a settled side but they have developed over the last 12 months and have the habit of how to win games now.
“Maybe they haven’t played the best or most entertaining rugby but they have picked up the results.
“They know the game plan and roles in the side inside-out. I worked alongside them last summer and I know how intelligent they are as players. They are very difficult to break down.
“They have world-class backs, it’s Brian’s 100th game and Tommy is on fire. But we haven’t been playing badly.”
Wales have trailed by more than a dozen points in each of their previous four Test matches before staging courageous second-half comebacks.
But former Ireland coach Gatland believes Wales must acquire the patience to go along with their fitness and physically to pull off a result in Dublin.
Gatland said: “Ireland are an impressive and experienced side with a pack of forwards who have been around for a long time.
“It will be a tough game for us but that is what Test match rugby is all about. We are creating chances but we know we will have to be more clinical.
“Physically we’re in great shape and I believe we’ve shown we are fitter than the other teams in the Six Nations. We have seen that in the second half of games.
“Now we just need to concentrate on our decision-making and not giving away soft points from the start.”
Wales make three changes with Gloucester’s Gareth Delve replacing Jones at number eight while Lions hooker Matthew Rees and lock Luke Charteris bolster the forward pack.
Lions stars Gethin Jenkins and Mike Phillips were also not considered due to calf and leg injuries respectively.
Gatland said: “We have taken the decision not to include any players who are unable to take a full part in training in the build-up to the Ireland game.
“Gareth is big, physical, and a good leader. His game is very accurate and he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He’s been unlucky with injuries but it’s great to see him back playing.
“There’s a lot for him to play for over the next 12 to 18 months if he goes out and gives a good performance. It’s a big game for him.”
