RUGBY SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP:DECLAN KIDNEY could never have been a boxing promoter. The Ireland coach tends to dismiss any pre-match mind games with a shrug, a smile and a comment along the lines of, "people say things", which is in stark contrast to Warren Gatland, who can tend to become a little mischievous in match weeks, and indeed say a few things.

Throwing a few grenades in the direction of England has been a particularly enjoyable pastime before Wales’ last two wins over the Red Rose and viewed in that light his claim that his players disliked the Irish players more than any other can probably be interpreted as a compliment, which is what he maintained they were yesterday.

“I meant it as a compliment,” said Gatland yesterday, though he also admitted: “I knew when I said it that it was going to get headlines. It got more of a reaction than I wanted probably. People have reacted rather than just take it with a grain of salt and a backhanded compliment.”

The Welsh coach cited the regularity with which the Irish provinces, especially Munster and Leinster, and the Welsh regions have bumped into each other in recent years, either in huge Heineken Cup games or in top-of-the-table Magners League games, and the way Ireland have held sway over Wales in recent years – winning seven of the last nine meetings, and five of them by over 20 points.

“The Welsh players have had some defeats by Munster and Leinster over the last few years, and also some big defeats by Ireland. They’ve had a few verbals and sometimes you can’t say anything and you’ve got to take it, and wait for your opportunity.

“Yeah, of course they want to beat England as well. Everybody wants to beat England, but when you’re playing sides on a more regular basis, that’s what builds up the rivalry. It’s not that they dislike them as individuals, it’s just that they’re a bit more passionate about wanting to beat the Irish at the moment,” said Gatland.

“If you go back over history there were often times when Wales had the edge in this fixture, but what I was saying was in recognition of what the Irish provinces have achieved in recent years and what Ireland have achieved in the last decade or so.

“I don’t see it any differently from Galwegians playing Corinthians,” added Gatland, in attempting to put his comments into further context, “or the Shannon-Garryowen rivalry, where each wants to beat the other. I wasn’t saying they disliked them as people, they just wanted to beat them so much. It’s like when I was with Waikato, we always wanted to beat Auckland more than anybody else.”

Donal Lenihan was manager to the Irish team when Gatland first became head coach in 1998, and commented yesterday: “I don’t think Warren dislikes the Irish. I just thought it was vintage Warren Gatland. He likes to play mind games and have a bit of fun.

“It’s just typical of the man. He looks to up the ante. Over the years, he has managed to stir up things before matches. You go back to the 2004 Heineken Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road between Munster and Wasps. There were a lot of mind games going on there.”

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Lenihan added: “It was the first time Warren had been back in Dublin since losing the Ireland job and it was quite emotional. There are times I think when he loses the run of himself.

“I was talking to Lawrence Dallaglio, who was his captain at Wasps, about him just a few weeks ago. Lawrence said there were times before matches when Warren came out with statements and you just said to yourself ‘why did you say that’ and I think this is one of those occasions.

“He’s a very experienced coach and he knows what buttons to press,” added Lenihan, who was probably on the money when adding: “On this occasion, I think it’s more a case of him challenging his own players. He’s trying to stir up the Welsh players. They have been on the receiving end against Irish teams in Heineken Cup and Magners League and he is trying to remind them of that. It’s all mind games.”

Lenihan reckoned that Kidney will quietly welcome Gatland’s “grenade”, adding: “I’m sure Warren has a huge amount of respect for the Irish players having worked over here for a good number of years. And I know the guys in the Irish set-up will have a lot of time for him. It’s just a case of him trying to put pressure on his own Welsh players to deliver the goods.

“The likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell have seen it and heard it all before. They have been around so long, they will only laugh at this type of thing. They will be concentrating on their own game and not letting any outside influences interfere with their preparations. A lot of the Irish players will know Gatland of old having been coached by him. They will just laugh it off. I think it will put more pressure on his own players than on the Irish team.”