MARTYN Williams is not just chasing a Wales win in Dublin on Sunday, but his first success as captain at the fifth attempt.

"I get all the easy games," he joked as he reflected on previous games in charge against Australia, New Zealand, France and Scotland, though he turned down the opportunity to lead Wales in the World Cup in Australia last year.

Now he gets another chance, this time against Ireland after Colin Charvis could not be considered because of a dislocated finger.

"I've been captain four times and haven't won so I hope to put it to bed this weekend," said Williams.

"With Colin injured Steve (coach Steve Hansen) just asked me, and I'm glad to take it. "When I didn't do it in the World Cup I made it clear it wasn't the right time. Colin has done a great job, and I'm doing it this one time when he is injured.

"Ireland have got a really good record at Lansdowne Road and the team has been together for the past four or five years.

"We are capable of winning, but we need to perform and we need to get some consistency. Lansdowne Road is as tough a place to play as any, and we'll have to step it up from last week."

Williams has vivid memories of the last championship visit Wales paid to Dublin - they were crushed 54-10 and coach Graham Henry resigned.

"We got a stuffing last time," Williams recalled ruefully. "They are very physical and committed, the main thing we must do is concentrate on our own game and not get involved in what they do."

Hansen, who was then assistant to Henry, took over the hot seat immediately after that drubbing and though he rejoins him this year with New Zealand, Hansen refuses to look back in anger.

"There is too much emphasis put on the past, it all irrelevant and it's about creating our own piece of history," he said.

"If we can impose on them the game that suits us it means we have got to get our set pieces right. We were only 80 per cent of what we're capable of doing last week.

"We've got to be sharper this week, they are a better pack and a better all-round side."

Hansen sees the return of star Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll as both a strength and a weakness.

O'Driscoll has been chosen in the unfamiliar inside centre position, compared with the normal outside centre spot which affords him a bit more freedom.

But Hansen disputes O'Driscoll's best position is outside centre while believing his long absence count in Wales' favour.

"I think his natural position is inside centre," he said. "He has also got to be asking questions of himself after not playing for the last six weeks."