When it comes to the rivalry between Ireland and Wales over the past decade or so, there are few people better qualified to comment than Johnny Sexton.
The now-veteran fly-half has been there pretty much every step of the way since playing the first of his 16 Tests against the men in red at Croke Park back in March 2010.
So it’s intriguing to hear his take on how he feels the contest has changed in nature over the years as he prepares to captain Ireland versus the Six Nations champions in Dublin on Saturday.
“With us and Wales, there has been big battles over the years,” the Leinster fly-half said.
“In my early days, especially, there was a nastier side to it.
“Before 2009, there was a bit of bite in most of those games.
“It just seemed to be a big rivalry in those days.
“But, then, when the players went on the Lions tour together in 2009, they hit it off.
“You talk about rivalries in sport, Leinster-Munster, with all the provinces we have that rivalry because you don’t like losing to the guys closest to you.
“There’s probably a little bit of an element of that with the Welsh boys that they get on so well with the Irish boys on the Lions tours and after games.
“When you’ve got relationships like that, you don’t want to lose to the people you are close to.
“Not all rivalries are like that. Some of them you are just not close to the other people and you want to beat them.”
Read more: 'Mike, it's got to stop!' The best Wales v Ireland sledges which show the dislike between the teams
Given his longevity, the 36-year-old Sexton is also well placed to compare and contrast Pivac’s Wales to the Gatland team he faced so often.
“They have an attacking system that can really stress you,” he said.
“They play very wide off phase, but they can be really direct early in the game and early in phases as well.
“So they challenge you both ways. They challenge you physically and they challenge you fitness-wise. They try and keep the ball in play as well by kicking long.
“We are preparing to play against a very good Welsh team that has been on a great run of form over the last year. We see a big tough test ahead.
“Obviously, it is at the very early stages of his [Pivac’s] tenure, but they have hit the ground running, haven’t they?
“They have a title under their belt and that is something we wish we had.
“So, obviously they are on an upward curve and having won the Championship, they will want to go to another level because they will have got some monkeys off their back and the pressure is off a little bit.
“So I am sure they will be aspiring to bigger and better things this year.”
Last season’s Six Nations opener in Cardiff saw Ireland lose 21-16 to Wales after having Peter O’Mahony sent off.
It is clearly a result which still rankles with the 101-times capped Sexton.
“We obviously went down to 14 men early on and there were things we didn’t execute,” he said.
“You don’t like looking back on games with regrets, you like to look back and say we ticked every box and did everything we wanted to do.
“But we look back on that game with some frustrations.”
Sexton will be facing a new Wales captain this weekend in the shape of his opposite number and two-time fellow Lions tourist Dan Biggar.
“We have had some great battles over the years,” he said.
“He is a good pal of mine and the captaincy is something he deserves thoroughly.
“He has led from the front since probably 2015 when he made the jersey his own.
“He’s been a mainstay of the team and I’m looking forward to coming up against him on Saturday.
“I think he’s improved his game immensely over the years. With his move to Northampton, working with different coaches, you can see the improvements in his game and he’s a world-class operator.”
Ireland enjoyed a hugely successful autumn, beating New Zealand 29-20, while thumping Japan and Argentina.
Yet, ominously for Wales, Sexton insists they are now looking to go up another gear again.
“We hope more is to come,” he said.
“We’re happy with our performances in November, but they were by no means perfect.
“A few things came off in that New Zealand game, a few didn’t.
“Some of the chances we didn’t take, the tries we conceded - when we look back, and we have looked back, we have said there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
“So, I don’t think the group feels that we’ve nailed it.
“We’re striving for a new level and hopefully we see that the next few weeks.”
Want the latest Welsh rugby news sent straight to you? Look no further.
