Ruddock's team will record their first championship clean sweep since 1978, in addition to landing the RBS 6 Nations title and the Triple Crown if they beat Ireland on Saturday.

But Ireland are on the rebound from seeing their own Grand Slam hopes dashed by France last weekend, and Ruddock knows there could be a backlash.

It will be backs against the wall from Ireland. They will be hurt after their defeat against France, and they will come out firing, said Ruddock, as his players completed final preparations in bright Millennium Stadium sunshine.

I expect huge passion from Ireland. I am expecting their pack to really come at us and try to take us on up-front.

The great thing about the Irish is that they can play in many different ways. They can tighten the game up, they can play a kicking game or they can go wide through the pace of someone like Denis Hickie.

Ruddock confirmed Llanelli Scarlets' Mike Phillips will provide scrum-half cover on the bench after Gareth Cooper failed a fitness test.

And with hype and expectation at fever-pitch in Wales, kick-off now cannot come soon enough for a Welsh team on the verge of making history.

Everything has all been said, added Ruddock.

It is all very much gameplan-focused, and we are trying to leave the emotion to one side, and keep the focus on what we are about and what we want to bring to this big stage.

There have been some tough times, but the trademark of this team is that they have come through the tough times together and it has bonded them.

A lot of teams fall apart when the heat comes on and get into a blame culture, but this team has just got together and worked harder with the team spirit that is so evident in the way they play.

There is a nice relaxed mood in the camp. Nobody is trying to get too up-tight, because we don't want to be up-tight and it is about expressing ourselves and playing with the liberation that has been our trademark.