In representing his country for the 59th time, the Blues prop will become Wales' most-capped front-row forward. He will go one ahead of Garin Jenkins, who won 58 caps at hooker between 1991 and 2000.

It's taken Gethin less than six years to pass that milestone, having made his Test debut against Romania in November 2002. That's a reflection of the amount of international rugby played these days, but also of his durability and versatility, with his ability to cover both sides of the scrum having made him an invaluable member of the match-day 22 for a succession of Welsh coaches.

Jenkins' career comes full circle in some ways this month as it was the 2002 tour of South Africa under Steve Hansen that provided him with his first taste of the national set-up.

"This was where I came on my first tour six years ago," he said, speaking at Wales' Cape Town base. "I came out here just for experience really in '02 and I didn't play at all when I got out here. Now to be 58 caps down the line and to be the most capped front-row player is a great achievement for me and my family."

Jenkins admits he has come a long way since his first involvement with Wales. "The difference in six years is unbelievable," he said. "The nutritionist will tell you when I first turned up I was pretty fat. I was a youngster, just 21, I didn't know much about training or conditioning.

"It was a wake-up call that first trip. As you go along you learn things off different people and you learn different habits. Back then I was just happy to be on the tour with the likes of Neil Jenkins, who was one of my idols. Now I'm one of the senior players. Things change and it's nice to be at that level now."

Jenkins has noted the difference in the way Wales play the game these days and his role within that game-plan. He feels there's a sharp contrast in the style of this current Grand Slam-winning team to the one he starred in back in 2005.

"If you look at the way we played in 2005 and the way we've played in 2008 there's a massive difference," he said. "In 2005 we were just passing the ball about and making as many passes as we could."Now it's more of a different game, more of a physical disruptive game. "I don't get my hands on the ball much these days. The way we play it's give the backs the ball as much as we can.

"I try to touch the ball as much as I can, but in the modern game the front five are there to do the hard work really and that's where you get your satisfaction out of these days. But now you get your enjoyment out of different things, like hitting so many rucks or making so many tackles."

Wales' most-capped players

Gareth Thomas ....................100
Colin Charvis .........................94
Gareth Llewellyn ..................92
Neil Jenkins ...........................87
Martyn Williams ...................81
Ieuan Evans ...........................72
Stephen Jones ......................70
Dwayne Peel .........................61
Rob Howley ...........................59
Garin Jenkins ........................58
Gethin Jenkins ......................58
As at 5th June 2008