Six Nations 2022: Sexton excited to renew 'friendly' hostilities with Wales

Johnny Sexton says the familiarity between Ireland and Wales players ensures games between the sides always carry an edge, but that the rivalry is not as «nasty» as it once was.

The nations will meet for the 133rd time in men's Test rugby in Saturday's Six Nations opener in Dublin.

Wales won last year's meeting in Cardiff but have not claimed victory at the Aviva Stadium since 2015.

«With us and Wales there have been big battles over the years,» Sexton said.

«The rivalry — I think in my early days especially — there was a nastier side to it. Now when you talk about rivalries in sport: Leinster-Munster, 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 Lions tours and after games.

«When you've got relationships like that you don't want to lose to the people you're closest with.

»Not all rivalries are like that. Some of them you're just not close to the other people and you want to beat them."

Sexton is set to lead Ireland out in his third Six Nations campaign as captain and will line up opposite newly-named Wales skipper Dan Biggar — with whom he formed a good bond on the 2017 Lions tour of New Zealand.

«We've had some great battles over the years, he's a great pal of mine and the captaincy is something he deserves thoroughly,» said Sexton.

«He's led from the front since 2015 when he made the jersey his own and he's been the mainstay of the team.»

Injury-ravaged Wales will arrive in Dublin without a long list of senior players, while Ireland by contrast have a clean bill of health in their squad as Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan and Iain Henderson returned to full