Wales at full strength for Irish Ireland unchanged for Cardiff Pick your Wales XV

Former England coach Dick Best also said many of the Wales players would be "out of their depth" if they played for the Lions in New Zealand this summer.

Ruddock said: "All we are focusing on is Ireland - whatever is said about the Lions will have to wait until after.

"It is about putting all the hype and the media talk to one side."

Best also said he would choose retired England flanker Neil Back ahead of Wales' outstanding number seven Martyn Williams for the Lions.

"Before the (Six Nations) tournament started, we had the pundits' views on the Lions team up on the notice board at our training base," Ruddock added.

It is a very tight group of players who believe in each other Wales coach Mike Ruddock

"There were no Welsh players in that team, so that was enough.

"It is (Lions coach) Clive Woodward's opinion that matters, and the Lions comes after the Ireland game this weekend."

Ruddock is trying his best to protect the Wales squad from the hype surrounding Saturday's glory bid against Ireland in Cardiff.

Outwardly, the coach and players appear relaxed - but Ruddock knows the expectations of a nation to end a 27-year wait for a Grand Slam weighs heavily on their shoulders.

"I was playing for Blaina Youth in 1978. On the day (Wales won the Grand Slam), I was probably playing at Garndiffaith or somewhere, and feeling proud to be Welsh," Ruddock recalled.

"The players at that time were magnificent players, and the players of this era are trying to play with that same Welsh flair.

"Hopefully, that will be good enough to win a very difficult Test match on Saturday.

"There is a great team spirit in the camp. It is a very tight group of players who believe in each other.

"They've come through a lot of hard times together, and they've come out the other side now.

"Being together through those tough times has bonded those players, and they are really on a very determined run to get results."