GARETH Delve has leapt from nowhere straight into the Welsh team to take the field against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday, writes Robin Davey.

The 27-year-old joint Gloucester captain, who led his side to two Heineken Cup victories over Newport Gwent Dragons this season, has been out in the cold since turning down the chance to tour North America last summer.

That was because he felt he needed a proper pre-season of conditioning after a whole series of injuries, and he has since felt that was vindicated by a lengthy run in his club side during which he has rediscovered his best form.

Now the No 8 specialist feels even more justified having jumped from being completely in the wilderness to a squad call-up on Sunday and into the side when it was annnounced yesterday.

He takes over from injured Wales captain Ryan Jones whose calf injury has ruled him out.

“It’s a great opportunity for Gareth, we’ve been keeping a close eye on him and he’s also a leader himself. We feel we have a loose forward trio here who can be competitive,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.

“I’ve been very impressed with the way Gareth has been performing for Gloucester so he’ll come in and perform the No 8 role for us and give us a physical impact as well.”

The captaincy passes to flanker Martyn Williams who does the job for the seventh time in his 95th appearance for Wales.

“Martyn was the logical choice,” explained Gatland, Williams saying: “I’m honoured, I’ve done it before and I’m happy to step into the role, it’s going to be a great occasion with Brian O’Driscoll’s 100th cap as well.

“Ireland are a very settled side who are used to playing with one another, but we play against them often in the Magners League so we know how one another plays.”

Scrum half Mike Phillips was not considered because of a bad bruise he picked up playing for the Ospreys against Edinburgh on Sunday, unrelated to the knee injury which had kept him out for four months, Gatland also said that prop Gethin Jenkins, a calf injury victim, needs a bit more time to get back to full fitness.