Ireland skipper Jonathan Sexton has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the Six Nations opener by admitting Wales' players "aren't mad about us - and they're not shy of making it known."
Dan Biggar and his team head to Dublin for the start of the defence of their title in just nine days' time and already, it seems, the mind games have begun.
It was former Wales boss Warren Gatland who first shocked the rugby world by revealing his players disliked their Irish opponents more than any other team.
"It’s Ireland who the Welsh players probably dislike the most. Players’ experiences against Ireland haven’t always been the greatest, so they are very motivated to play against them," said Gatland.
Irish legend Brian O'Driscoll then explained the feeling was mutual and how he hated losing to Wales even more than England because of the 'animosity' he feels was whipped up by Gatland.
"You feed off the public's perception how important it is to beat England and you enjoy the adulation than comes with that. But, I don't think they're the most difficult to lose to. There's been a lot of niggle with Wales for a number of years," O'Driscoll told an Irish breakfast broadcast show.
"There's nothing worse than being in Cardiff when Wales have won if you're Irish. In sport, it's the worst place... they (Wales) are the worst winners."
READ MORE: Full story on Gatland revealing Wales players' dislike of Ireland
READ MORE: O'Driscoll's comments about Wales in full
Even though Gatland first made his remarks ahead of an key Wales versus Ireland clash way back in 2009, they still seem as pertinent today.
Addressing the opening showdown with Wales on Saturday week, Sexton said in the Irish Independent : "It’s a big rivalry, isn’t it?
“Over the years they haven’t been shy in saying that, that they’re not mad about the Irish.
"So, I think big rivalries make for unpredictable fixtures. We’re coming up against the champions, coming up against a team that beat us last year, and we want to do something in this championship.
“The best way to do that is to start off with a good performance and that’s what our focus will be on over the next days.”
Wales under Gatland had the better of the Irish in some big games, including beating them in the 2011 World Cup semi-final and to win the Grand Slam in Cardiff in 2019.
Wales also kick-started their successful title campaign under Wayne Pivac last season with an opening-day victory over Ireland in Cardiff after Peter O'Mahony had been sent off.
However, at regional level it has been a different story with Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht often having the number on the four Welsh regions.
That has been the case once again this year, with the Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff and Dragons in poor form as Wales head into the tournament and having bombed out of Europe.
But Sexton warned: "I can remember having this exact same conversation about five years ago when the Irish provinces were flying and the Welsh regions were struggling. They beat us.
"They love playing for Wales, they are different players when they play for Wales and they’ll turn up 100 per cent ready to go.
“They won the championship last year, they were so close to winning another Grand Slam and they’re a team to be reckoned with.
“They’ve had a good November, so they’ve got some momentum too, and it’s going to be a great battle.”
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