Wales all fit and healthy for Ireland clash

Wales expect to have all 30 players to choose from when they name their side for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash with Ireland at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday.

Back row forward Dan Lydiate (ankle), wing Shane Williams (thigh strain) and utility back James Hook (shoulder) have all been passed fit to take a full part in training on Wednesday.

Lydiate and Hook were both injured during Wales' second match victory over Samoa in Hamilton, while Williams is over the thigh strain which kept him out of the final two Pool D clashes with Namibia and Fiji.

Prop Gethin Jenkins and captain and openside flanker Sam Warburton are also both fit for selection following calf cramp experienced during the end of the Fiji fixture, although Warburton sat out the Tuesday training session in order to manage his workload after starting in all four pool matches.

Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins said the squad was in "fantastic shape" given they've played four matches in one of the more physical pools at RWC 2011.

Toughest group

"We’ve done a lot of hard work leading up to the World Cup and that’s put us in good stead.

We knew we were in probably the toughest group of all (with South Africa, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia) and we’ve managed to come through that," Jenkins said.

“We’re in good condition, the boys are playing some fantastic rugby, they are in good form and they are believing in themselves.”

If the weather forecast is accurate Wellington could be over its current spell of wet and windy weather in time for the weekend matches, which would allow players like utility back Stephen Jones to show just what the exciting Wales backline can do.

“What’s important is that we go out and express ourselves," Jones said.

"Team morale is good, there is good belief in the squad, there is good confidence in our game plan and in the style the coaches want us to play.

“We need to be brave and play with a lot of excitement.”