RBS SIX NATIONS: Ireland v Wales
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 13 March Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and BBC Sport website; Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Brian O'Driscoll hands off Martyn Williams in the 2004 Six Nations

Wales will try to spoil captain Brian O'Driscoll's 100th Ireland appearance party with a game of patience in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Skipper Martyn Williams says Wales will bide their time at Croke Park.

Williams said: "The big message that we're going to try and hammer home all week is just be a little bit more patient and the gaps will appear."

The 34-year-old added: "It's a shame we're going to try and spoil Brian's party... but that's our job."

The two opposing captains have made three British and Irish Lions tours together - to Australia in 2001, New Zealand in 2005 and South Africa last year.

O'Driscoll's probably the best player in the northern hemisphere for the last decade if not the world Martyn Williams

That has given Williams the chance to get to know O'Driscoll away from the field and he said: "I think the word legend is thrown around a lot, but he is the epitome of the word.

"He's probably been the best player in the northern hemisphere for the last decade, if not the world and you can't speak highly enough of him.

"I know him off the field as well and he's a really down-to-earth guy."

Williams will celebrate a person milestone of his own on Saturday by winning his 95th cap, taking him one clear of Colin Charvis as Wales' most capped forward.

His performances in the championship so far have come under increased scrutiny, with even coach Warren Gatland publically criticising his performance after the last-gasp win over Scotland in the second game.

Williams, though, says his farm has "not been that bad" in Wales' roller-coaster campaign, and firmly believes the team has the attributes to shock the Irish.

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"We've just got to mix it up," said the Cardiff Blues flanker. "Obviously we've shown that's when we're very good.

"We're very dangerous in the open game when we've got players like James Hook, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne - obviously they are our strengths and that's what we want to play to.

"But I think we've got to be a little bit more patient than we have been in the first three games.

"And we must realise that at international level defences are very hard to break down in the first 40-50 minutes.

"And maybe we've been trying to score every time we've got the ball early on.

"So the big message that we're going to try and hammer home all week is just be a little bit more patient and the gaps will appear.

"We know Ireland defensively are very strong so we are just going to have to bide our time."

Ireland saw their Grand Slam defence hopes ended in a 33-11 defeat by France, but a Triple Crown is still up for grabs after they came from behind at Twickenham to beat England 20-16.

On that occasion, Ospreys wing Tommy Bowe scored the late winning try, but their defensive effort caught Williams' eye after they missed only one tackle in 100 attempts.

Williams said: "That was a phenomenal effort [against England]. I watched that game... they're a well settled side with loads of experience throughout their side and at Croke Park as well they are a very difficult side to break down.

"We all know each other very well. A lot of us toured with each other in the summer, play against each other in the Magners and they normally are very entertaining games.

"So we are going to have to ask a few more questions maybe than England did of them."

Wales team to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday:
Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny; James Hook, Jamie Roberts; Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Richie Rees; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams (capt), Gareth Delve.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Rhys Gill, Ian Gough, Sam Warburton, Dwayne Peel, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin.

Wales' Six Nations squad:

Backs: Leigh Halfpenny, Tom James, Richard Rees, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin (all Cardiff Blues) Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Lee Byrne, James Hook, Kristian Phillips, Tom Prydie, Shane Williams (all Ospreys), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones (all Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks).

Forwards: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Bradley Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams (all Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Paul James, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (both Newport Gwent Dragons), Eifion Lewis-Roberts (Sale Sharks), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Gareth Delve (Gloucester).

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