Gareth Llewellyn has insisted that membership of international rugby’s exclusive 100-cap club is not the driving force behind prolonging his marathon Wales career.
e 35-year-old lock will make a 91st Test match appearance in the Millennium Stadium clash against Romania.
And while he has no current plans to retire, Llewellyn claims that joining centurions Jason Leonard, Philippe Sella, George Gregan and David Campese does not occupy his thoughts.
"I don’t think about 100 caps, because nine more caps is probably two seasons away, and I believe it is a hell of a long time," said the Narbonne forward.
"It’s not really a goal for me, and I can only think about the next game. I am here because I want to play international rugby until the end of the season."
Llewellyn made his debut during a 34-9 defeat against Wayne Shelford’s 1989 All Blacks.
His team-mates that day included Robert Jones, David Young, Mike Hall and Mark Ring, while New Zealand paraded household names such as Shelford, Sean Fitzpatrick and Grant Fox.
Zinzan Brooke and current Wasps rugby director Warren Gatland were on the bench.
For the Friday night clash, Wales coach Mike Ruddock has made six personnel changes from the side beaten 38-36 by South Africa.
Ruddock has etained continuity, though, through further appearances for captain Gareth Thomas, Colin Charvis, centre Gavin Henson and half-backs Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel, among others.
Romania, who have lost five in a row against Wales and conceded an average of more than 50 points, field nine French-based players, including Biarritz prop Petru Balan and Beziers number eight Alain Petrache.
Wales: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); R Williams (Cardiff), T Shanklin (Cardiff), G Henson (Neath-Swansea), H Luscombe (Gwent); Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli); G Jenkins (Cardiff), M Davies (Neath-Swansea), A Jones (Neath-Swansea), G Llewellyn (Narbonne), L Charteris (Gwent), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Owen (Gwent).
Replacements: Steve Jones (Gwent), Duncan Jones (Neath-Swansea), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), G Cooper (Gwent), C Sweeney (Gwent), S Parker (Neath-Swansea).
Romania: V Marftei (Aurillac), V Ghioc (Dinamo Bucuresti), R Sauan (Rugby Rovigo), R Gonteineac (Aurillac), I Todorescu (U Cluj), I Tofan (Metro Racing), L Sirbu (Metro Racing), P Balan (Biarritz Olimpique), B Zebega (Steaua Bucuresti), M Socaciu (Rugby Rovigo), F Tatu (Steaua Bucuresti), C Petre (Tarbes), C Mersoiu (Perigueux), A Tudori (Perigueux), A Petrache
(Beziers)
