Gatland takes his hat off to BOD

He deserves it all - Gatland

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Wales coach Warren Gatland has paid a glowing tribute to Ireland cap centurion Brian O'Driscoll ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash in Dublin.

The Ireland skipper will follow his team-mate John Hayes in securing membership of arguably Test rugby's most exclusive club.

O'Driscoll becomes the 13th player to reach the 100-cap landmark for their country, and is guaranteed a rapturous reception when he leads Ireland out at Croke Park.

Former Ireland coach Gatland handed O'Driscoll his international debut against Australia almost 11 years ago, and he has been thrilled by the Leinster centre's rise to world-great status.

Gatland, who was in charge of Ireland for 38 Tests between 1998 and 2001, also worked with O'Driscoll on last summer's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

"I gave him his first cap, and it was an honour for me to be involved with him with the Lions last year to see how he has developed," said Gatland.

"I was incredibly impressed with his leadership and his understanding of the game.

"He was one of the main reasons (Wales centre) Jamie Roberts ended up having such a good tour.

"He deserves all the accolades, and I will be one of the first to stand up in the coaching box on Saturday and clap him.

"I am absolutely delighted for him and proud I have had an association with him.

"Brian has got natural flair, is a good passer off both hands, has got a step and fantastic pace.

"He would most definitely be in most people's World XV of the last decade."

O'Driscoll has enjoyed a glittering career, featuring on the last three Lions tours - including captaining the 2005 squad in New Zealand - leading Ireland 63 times, winning a Six Nations title, Grand Slam, four Triple Crowns and the Heineken Cup with Leinster.

Gatland though, turns the clock back to Paris in 2000, for his favourite O'Driscoll memory.

O'Driscoll, just two months after his 21st birthday, produced a mesmeric performance that March afternoon at Stade de France.

He scored three tries as Ireland beat a French side that included the likes of Emile Ntamack, Philippe Bernat-Salles and Abdel Benazzi - and Gatland has never forgotten it.

"That is my greatest memory of Brian - the hat-trick of tries he scored when Ireland beat France in Paris for the first time in 27 years," added Gatland.

"I remember the French great Philippe Sella coming into the changing room to congratulate him afterwards and saying it was one of the most impressive centre performances he had ever seen."

Wales will aim to gatecrash the O'Driscoll celebrations this weekend, but their respect for him runs throughout their side.

Flanker Martyn Williams, a colleague of O'Driscoll's on three Lions tours, will be his opposite number in Dublin after taking over captaincy duties from an injured Ryan Jones.

And Williams said: "Brian is without doubt the best player in the northern hemisphere over the last decade, and probably one of the greatest ever.

"For me, there is nothing he can't do.

"A lot of players maybe are really good defenders and have great passing skills, but he's got the complete package.

"I cannot speak highly enough of him. He is an unbelievable player."