Paul McNaughton, Ireland's team manager, shrugged off Gatland's attempts to crank up the pressure on his side and insisted his remarks would not be used as motivation for Saturday.

"There seems to be a lot of stuff coming out of Wales. I've read some of it. I don't have any response to it really,'' he said.

"The only thing I can say about the Irish and the Welsh is that the Irish players certainly respect the Welsh.

"Wales might see it as mind games, but we aren't taking any of this stuff seriously. I'm not being flippant here - it's not worthy of a response.

"We won't use it as motivation for the game really. The players have been around a long time and are just concentrating on the game.

"I don't know what's in Wales' minds in terms of what is coming out of there.

"I suspect they are looking for a reaction and trying to ramp up the pressure.

"But it's honestly having no effect on our preparations. The guys aren't reading most of it."

McNaughton rejected Gatland's claims that Ireland spent an hour-and-a-half singing and celebrating in the changing room after beating Scotland 22-15 at Murrayfield on Saturday.

"It was completely wrong and nonsense - there wasn't a note sung in the dressing room if that's what he is talking about. Most of them can't sing anyway,'' he said.

"There wasn't a note sung, and they were in reflective mood after the match - starting to think about the next game.''

McNaughton confirmed that number eight Denis Leamy is fit to take his place on the bench, after recovering from his shoulder injury.

Gatland today insisted his comments were motivated by admiration, with Wales desperate to claim bragging rights over their title rivals.

"I meant it as a compliment. I knew when I said it that it was going to get headlines, but it got more of a reaction than I wanted probably,'' he said.