SHAUN Edwards is relishing the chance to work with Wales and is confident he can help restore the team's pride.

Wasps boss Edwards was this week brought in as defence coach by new team chief Warren Gatland as part of Wales' post-World Cup shake-up.

Edwards will combine the role with his Wasps duties and is convinced he can handle the extra responsibilities.

"Statistics don't lie. We are are 10th in the world at the moment and I would like to think we can climb that ladder,'' said the rugby league legend.

"The first thing we need to do is put more emphasis on the defensive side of the game - that is the area where most improvement needs to be made.

"The great Welsh team of the '70s - every time they finished top of the defensive charts, they won the championship.

"There is no denying the fact the teams with the best defences usually win the trophies.

"If there is an improvement on the defensive side I am a big believer in that results will look after themselves.'' Edwards is the most decorated rugby league player of all time having won every domestic honour in the game - including eight successive Challenge Cups - with Wigan.

He has transferred that success into coaching in the other code, winning three Guinness Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups since joining the Wasps set-up.

He recently revealed his ambition to extend himself further by moving into international rugby and he believes linking up with his former Wasps boss Gatland is ideal.

The Rugby Football Union offered, but later withdrew, an offer to coach the England Saxons team but Edwards was keen to be involved with a first team. He also likes the fact that, with Wales, he can stay on at Wasps.

"I'm very happy it's all worked out and I can work with Warren again and have a crack at international rugby,'' he said.

"The lure of international rugby (appealed) and the fact I can keep my job at Wasps, which is very important to me. I've shown that by extending my contract. It's been a second home to me.

"It is the ideal scenario for me that I can do both jobs. I feel the amount of time international coaches spend not coaching is not ideal for me because I like to be busy all the time.

"I am quite comfortable with it. It is very exciting and a huge challenge.'' Edwards will plan his Wales and Wasps sessions around each other and will miss only one club game during the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations due to a clash of fixtures.

The 40-year-old has been tipped to take full charge of a national team in the future but he insists he is not looking that far ahead yet.

He added: "Three and a half years is a long time. I don't think we should look further than that. I try to live in the here and now.

"My ambition with Wales first is to get respect in our defence and for the other teams to respect our defence - if we can do that and start winning some games.'' One of the players Edwards will meet up with in his new job will be Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams, who has been talked out of retirement by Gatland.

Williams quit international rugby after the World Cup but reconsidered after an appeal by Gatland.

He was yesterday named in Gatland's 28-man squad for the Six Nations and the 32-year-old, who has 76 caps, now admits he made his retirement decision too hastily.

"We'd had a tough 18 months, and it was perhaps more emotional than anything else,'' said the back row.

"At the time, I was convinced it was the right decision and I was adamant there was no way I would be going back.'' After reconsidering, though, Williams intends to make the most of his second chance.

"I am not retiring again, I can promise you that,'' he said.

"I'll keep going until I drop. It's a huge honour to play for Wales, and you are retired a long time.''