Wales coach Warren Gatland hit back Friday after an Irish newspaper columnist labelled him as "snappy as a menopausal warthog" in the build-up to Saturday's Six Nations match at Croke Park.
Former Ireland coach Gatland found himself caught up in controversy ahead of last year's corresponding fixture when he said Ireland were the team Wales "disliked" the most of any in the Six Nations.
Ireland went on to win 17-15 in Cardiff and so clinch a Grand Slam.
But Gatland insisted some of the comments he'd been subjected to this week were of a different order completely.
"It has to be taken with a pinch of salt, really," Gatland said at Wales's hotel here on Friday.
"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.
"If you look at anything I've ever said in the past, sometimes I've got myself in trouble because I have given an opinion or told the truth.
"But no way have I ever been personally critical or gone to the lows that one or two people did this week," the New Zealander insisted.
Earlier, Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and coach Declan Kidney both lauded Gatland's coaching record, which includes leading Wales to a Grand Slam in 2008.
"I always got on well with Warren when he's coaching Ireland," said O'Driscoll, who made his Test debut under Gatland and worked with him again on last year's British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
"We got on like a house on fire on the Lions tour," added the centre, who is set to play in his 100th Ireland Test on Saturday.
"Warren apologised for his comments last year. It's all water under the bridge."
Gatland, after he was ousted as Ireland coach in 2001, went to coach English giants Wasps to European Cup glory and Kidney said his rival coach's success with very different groups of players was a testament to his ability.
"Warren is an excellent coach, he's shown that with all players he's had," Kidney said.
"Wales play a different style to Wasps but he's always had the knack of finding the strengths of his players. His record speaks for itself."
Wales arrived in Dublin having won just once this Six Nations, against Scotland, despite some stirring fightbacks from desperate positions.
They now face an Ireland team still in title contention, even if their hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams disappeared with last month's 33-10 drubbing away to France.
But Wales's only previous Croke Park visit ended in a 16-12 win in 2008.
"The last two games between the teams have been very close," Gatland said.
"Ireland were in front at half-time two years ago, and last year it went down to the wire - either team could have won it.
"Ireland are very clinical, and when they get opportunities they tend to take them.
"When you have won a Grand Slam you are the top dog and everyone is gunning for you. People realise you are champions from the previous season."
Wales have made slow starts in all three of their Six Nations matches so far this season, falling 20-3 behind against England, 21-9 against Scotland and 20-0 against France.
"We've made it difficult for ourselves by conceding soft points, particularly in first halves, and having to chase the game a bit," said Gatland.
"If we get to half-time and the game is very close and very tight, we are confident we can perform and finish well in the second half."
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