Martyn Williams returns for Wales with his eyes on a World Cup place

It was not very long ago that Wales fretted over the lack of an alternative to Martyn Williams as a breakaway loose forward. When Warren Gatland took charge at the end of 2007, he made it a priority to persuade the Lion to change his mind about retiring from international rugby. Williams made the decision after Wales failed to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals earlier that year. He initially said he was not for turning, but Gatland, over numerous coffees, did his best Kitchener impression and a few months later Williams celebrated a grand slam in which he had played a pivotal role. He was a regular in the Wales side until a year ago when Sam Warburton finally gave Gatland an option in the position and proved so effective that Williams was left out of the squad for the Six Nations, stranded on 98 caps, and his international career appeared over. Williams will not only make it 99 against Argentina in Cardiff on Saturday but he leads the side with Matthew Rees injured, Warburton rested and Ryan Jones withdrawn as a precaution after suffering a calf strain. If Williams had seemed unlikely to go to New Zealand because he does not offer cover in any position except openside wing forward, his experience has suddenly become an asset with Rees and Gavin Henson ruled out of the World Cup and Gethin Jenkins struggling with injury. As the past two World Cup winning coaches said after their triumphs in 2003 and 2007, Clive Woodward and Jake White respectively, experience is an essential commodity in tournament rugby. "I have got to put in a big performance," said Williams, who turns 36 on 1 September when Wales will be on their way to New Zealand. "When I was left out of the Six Nations squad I thought my international career was done and dusted. Now I have another opportunity but, even though the competitive edge is still there, you have to be realistic. "Sam has been outstanding since taking the jersey: his performance against England last weekend was one of the best I have seen from a British No7. He is a physical player, but it is the top few inches with him as well. It is the strongest squad I have been involved with and it is not going to be easy getting into the World Cup 30." It will be Williams's last international at the Millennium Stadium and such has been the length of his career that when he was first capped, the ground in Cardiff had not been redeveloped."I am like a batsman who is twitching away in the 90s," he said. "When you get this close to 100 you would love to get there. "I have had a pretty good run, but I would like to get one more. I was so delighted to get this chance that it was like winning my first cap again." The victory over England last weekend has taken some of the pressure off Wales. The concern for Gatland, after the set-pieces, which malfunctioned in both matches against England, will be the casualty list. He has already exhausted most of his options behind and needs his front-rowers to stay fit, but they are preparing for another attritional afternoon up front. "It will be a brutal encounter," said the flanker Dan Lydiate, "perfect preparation for what will be a very physical World Cup group, starting with South Africa." Adam Jones's return at tighthead prop should give Wales ballast, and victory, based on a convincing performance, would make for an intriguing opener against the Springboks. Wales, who normally sack their coaches before a World Cup, have never been better prepared for one.