WELSH COACH Warren Gatland yesterday moved to further defuse the reaction to his infamous remarks last year when he said that Irish players were the least liked of all the Six Nations teams, an opinion that drew critical articles in some Irish newspapers. Speaking at the team hotel in Portmarnock, Gatland said that far from the criticism he received this week upsetting the Welsh team in the build-up to Saturday’s match in Croke Park, it was seen as light relief.

“The players have found it quite hilarious,” said Gatland. “They’ve just taken it as a bit of a joke, referring to things like warthogs running around. I was quite surprised to see some of the comments but as I say, you have to take that with a grain of salt.

“A distraction? No, not at all. In fact it’s been quite funny for us all, actually.”

Becoming a little more combative and possibly stung by the comments the Welsh coach added: “I thought if people were going to personally attack me, at least they might front up in person and say it to my face. That is why I turned up at the press conference today.”

Gatland also said he was prepared for Ireland’s tactics and expected the home team to kick for territory and try to pilfer lineout ball, something in which they have excelled so far.

“Ireland are a team that like to kick it out. They are happy to do that,” said Gatland. “There will maybe be 15 to 20 lineouts tomorrow and so far they have disrupted 35-40 per cent of the opposition ball. They are happy to kick the ball out and use the opposition lineouts as an offensive tactic.”

With Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan pivotal to Ireland’s strength in that area, Gatland named O’Connell as one of the supreme players in world rugby in that area. “I would put him up there with Keith Robinson, the ex-All Black,” said Gatland. “That (lineout) is definitely one of Paul’s strengths.”

Wales will make a concerted effort not to fall behind in the first half and are expecting a tough, physical game in what will be their final match in Croke Park as Ireland move back to the Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road for next season. “We are the only team that Ireland has not beaten in Croke Park,” observed Gatland.