Fired-up Dragons don’t fear Ireland

Andrew Baldock

But Ruddock repeated a no-fear Welsh approach for his country's biggest game since 1978.

Wales will arrive at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, needing victory over Ireland to secure the Six Nations title, the Triple Crown and their first Grand Slam for 27 years.

But Ruddock, who has named an unchanged team following Sunday's record-breaking victory against Scotland in Edinburgh, knows only too well what a threat the Irish pose.

The coach explained: "They are the most dangerous side we've faced this championship, technically the most proficient as well, and they are well prepared to do the work of their excellent coaching staff.

"This is undoubtedly our biggest challenge to date. Ireland's consistency and strength must be respected.

"However, we must not live in fear of the opposition. We have respect, but no fear."

Cardiff wing Rhys Williams has recovered from a calf muscle problem while hooker Mefin Davies (leg) and replacement back Hal Luscombe (hamstring) are also fully fit.

Scrum-half Gareth Cooper, who missed Scotland's game because of an ankle problem, will undergo a fitness test tomorrow to decide whether or not he will provide bench cover for Dwayne Peel.

If Cooper fails to make it then Peel's Llanelli colleague Mike Phillips will continue on the bench.

Ruddock had no hesitation in sticking with the side which ran riot at Murrayfield, and he is hoping for a similar outcome as Wales look to finish their championship campaign in the grand manner.

The coach continued: "We are changing nothing the tide is the same and our preparation is exactly the same.

"This mentality has worked for us so far we focus on the opposition, the construction of our gameplan and on delivering performance.

"We are sticking with what has worked so well for us so far, and that is concentrating on the opposition's strengths and weaknesses, preparing our gameplan in the right way and focusing entirely on the task in hand.

"The Irish are the current Triple Crown holders, and they have the experience.

"With nearly 900 caps between them and side which has been settled for the past five years, they are coming to the Millennium Stadium for one thing only, and that is to win.

"But this Welsh team have special qualities we are confident in the way we play and we give ourselves a licence to express ourselves no matter who the opposition are."

He added: "We will stick to our gameplan, be bold, be expressive and take the opposition on in the same way we have done throughout the championship and maintain our strong, aggressive defence.

"It has worked for us so far, so there is no way we are going to change now."

Number eight Michael Owen, who took over as captain from an injured Gareth Thomas against Scotland, will lead Wales for the first time in a Test match on home soil.

And the statistics scream loudly that Wales face a considerable task, with Ireland unbeaten in Cardiff since 1983.

WALES: K Morgan (Newport Gwent); R Williams (Cardiff), T Shanklin (Cardiff), G Henson (Neath-Swansea), S Williams (Neath-Swansea); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne); D Peel (Llanelli); G Jenkins (Cardiff), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath-Swansea), B Cockbain (Neath-Swansea), R Sidoli (Cardiff), R Jones (Neath-Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), M Owen (Newport Gwent, capt).