Johnny Sexton claims that the 'nastier' side to the Ireland v Wales rivalry is in the past - and insists there is 'not one ounce' of complacency in the Ireland squad ahead of their Six Nations opener against injury-hit Wales.
The Welsh arrive in Dublin this weekend as title holders but are missing hugely experienced leaders such as Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi and Dan Lydiate.
Ireland, meanwhile, are hoping to be at full strength except for the injured James Lowe, with 22 of the 23 players who were involved in the matchday panel for the win over the All Blacks in November available.
The hosts will be favourites at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday but Sexton stresses there has been no talk of the Welsh being there for the taking.
"We haven't spoken too much about who they're missing, we've spoken about who they've got," said the veteran out-half.
"They played November with a lot of the same injuries and picked up some good results and good performances.
"They had some injuries in the Six Nations last year and ended up winning it. We haven't spoken about it too much - we're just preparing to play against a very good Welsh team that's had a great run of form over the last year.
"We see a big tough test ahead, and that's what we're playing for."
Asked if the injury situation added up to Ireland having the advantage ahead of kick-off, Sexton responded: "I'm not going to say that, because then I'm insulting the guys coming in, and the guys coming are excellent players.
"The guys who are injured have big reputations because they played multiple tests for their country and performed week in and week out.
"The guys coming in are at the start of their journeys and could go on and have the same careers as the guys ahead of them.
"So there's not one ounce of complacency in our squad, we've seen the calibre of player they're missing but they've got some got some excellent players to come in and replace them."
Sexton also sought to play down talk of a big rivalry between the two sides, which definitely ramped up during Warren Gatland's time in charge of Wales.
"There's probably a rivalry in almost every game in their own unique way," the Dubliner said.
"With us and Wales, there have been big battles over the years, in my early days especially there was a nastier side to it.
"I think now when you talk about rivalries, Leinster-Munster, all the provinces have that rivalry because you don't like losing to the guys close to you.
"There's probably an element of that with the Welsh boys that they get on so well with the Irish boys on Lions tours and after games.
"When you have relationships like that you don't want to lose to people you're close to.
"Not all rivalries are like that, some of them you're just not close to the people and you want to beat them."
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