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Test centurion: Gareth Thomas
Test centurion Gareth Thomas revealed that Saturday will be the proudest day of his life if Wales can mark his 100th cap with a victory over Fiji to secure a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Thomas, the former postman from Pencoed, will become the first Welshman to win 100 Test caps and he joins an exclusive club of just eight international players to have achieved the feat.
The 100 club is headed by Australia scrum-half George Gregan, who has a world record 137 caps, and includes Fabien Pelous, Jason Leonard, Phillippe Sella, Stephen Larkham, David Campese and Alessandro Troncon.
Less than two weeks ago, Thomas was left fearing he could be stuck on 99 forever after suffering rib cartilage damage in Wales' defeat to Australia that threatened to rule him out of the tournament.
But Thomas has made a remarkable recovery and replaces Kevin Morgan at full-back for Wales' must-win clash with Fiji, where a quarter-final tie against South Africa is on the line.
"I feel that a win on Saturday, with the occasion it is then for me, would be the proudest day of my life and I want it to a proud occasion not just for me but for the boys and the management team around me as well,'' said Thomas.
"It's a huge achievement that I'm really proud to get.
"I didn't realise that one cap was a possibility. I didn't realise that 10 caps was a possibility.
"There's been times that I played games that I didn't really deserve.
"For me it just kept coming and coming, getting closer and closer and the reason why I feel I got it is because I never searched for it and never wanted it as a personal goal.
"It's just something that has arrived.
"On days when you achieve such great things as I feel this is, you must remain true to yourself.
"In the build-up to Saturday it will be exciting for me and after the game I will probably be more excited and still thinking about the achievement.
"During the game it's never about me and never will be about me, it will always be about the team.''
Nevertheless, Thomas took a bow after being greeted by a round of applause from his team-mates at the official team announcement on Tuesday.
Thomas' Test debut came at the 1995 World Cup in the last days of amateur rugby and he marked the occasion with a hat-trick of tries against Japan.
Thomas developed a reputation for being a maverick in his early years but emerged under Steve Hansen's reign as one of Wales' senior players.
Thomas was appointed Wales captain by Mike Ruddock and led the side into the 2005 Grand Slam. Later that year he replaced injured Brian O'Driscoll as the British and Irish Lions captain.
Thomas has never been too far away from controversy either.
In 2006 he suffered a "mini-stroke'' following an infamous appearance on BBC Wales show Scrum V to deny the players had forced Ruddock out of the job.
The new head coach Gareth Jenkins initially appointed Stephen Jones as his captain - but turned to Thomas for the summer tour of Australia and for the World Cup.
Jenkins believes Thomas is playing better now, at his fourth World Cup, than at any time over the last 12 years.
"Gareth's importance to this team cannot be understated,'' said Jenkins.
"He's a really special guy and he's earned the right to get where he is. He's been a fantastic professional all through his career. He's matured and grown as he's got older.
"This 100 caps is hugely deserved and I'm proud really to have given him the chance to accept the honour.
"His stature and composure on the rugby field will be invaluable to us in a game that could offer us such high rewards.
"We are within touching distance of a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.''
In the immediate days after suffering the rib damage in Wales' 32-20 defeat to Australia Thomas initially feared his World Cup, and possibly his Test career, was all over.
"For 48 hours after the injury I was very down and very low, but I put faith and trust in the doctors and the physios around me,'' said Thomas.
"I worked hard. I got up early every morning. I've been in the pool umpteen times a day just to give myself the best opportunity.''
Players who have earned 100 caps for their country:
George Gregan (Australia 1994-2007*) 137
Fabien Pelous (France 1995-2007*) 115
Jason Leonard (England 1990-2004) 114
Philippe Sella (France 1982-1995) 112
Stephen Larkham (Australia 1996-2007*) 102
David Campese (Australia 1982-1996) 101
Alessandro Troncon (Italy 1994-2007*) 100
