Johnny Sexton says he doesn't bear any ill-feeling towards Wales head coach Warren Gatland, after he was overlooked for selection for the 2021 British and Irish Lions.
The Ireland captain was a surprise omission from the Lions squad just under two years ago, missing out on a third tour after featuring in 2013 and 2017 under the Wales coach.
Sexton spoke last year about how the snub had been a driving factor for him in recent seasons, while Gatland yesterday admitted that the 37-year-old had proven him wrong over the decision.
And while the Leinster out-half says he still looks back with regrets on 2021, he says he doesn't hold a grudge with the Wales boss.
"It's something that you never get back which is why it hurts so bad at the time," the Ireland captain said.
"But people make their decisions and at the time, they probably make them for what they think are the right reasons.
"I met him at the [Six Nations] launch and there was no animosity or anything. I shook hands and said hello. I got on really well with him on the two previous tours, which is probably why it hurt so much.
"But it is what it is. It's over now, it was a long time ago."
Sexton (above) is on course to start, and captain Ireland, in Saturday's Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff, having recovered from the facial injury picked up against Connacht on New Year's Day.
After training recently while wearing a protective mask, he was able to remove it for the first time at today's session at their Quinta do Lago base in Portugal.
The squad for Saturday's game will be named tomorrow afternoon, after which the squad will depart for Cardiff.
Gatland named his Wales squad yesterday, with Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Alun-Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau included in an experienced lineup.
With the hosts coming into the competition in such poor form, and Gatland only recently installed in the job, replacing the sacked Wayne Pivac in December, the Wales coach has suggested his side have nothing to lose against the world's top ranked team.
But Sexton says the suggestion that Wales have a "free hit" at Ireland is wide of the mark.
"Maybe that's what he [Gatland] is saying but he certainly hasn't picked a team that would suggest it's a free hit because he's picked such an experienced team.
"He has brought back some older guys that would suggest he's targeting this game. If he was looking at a free hit, he'd pick all the young lads, give it a lash and see if they can get through to the World Cup.
"We're definitely not preparing like that. We're preparing for a full-on Test match in the Principality Stadium which is an incredibly tough place to go and win. That's all we've been talking about and preparing for."
The Principality Stadium hasn't been a fruitful venue for Sexton or Ireland in recent years, losing five of their last six in Cardiff in the Six Nations, with the out-half's only victory there coming in 2013.
And while several of those have been tight, tense game, Sexton says the 2019 championship decider (above) in which Ireland were beaten 25-7 remains one of the toughest experiences he's had in Test rugby.
"In 2019, they were going for the Grand Slam and we were going for the Championship," he said.
"I remember that day it was terrible weather-wise. They got an early score and we had to chase the game on a horrible day, it was one of the worst days we've had in green a lot of us.
"Then the last time [in 2021], with Pete [O'Mahony] getting the red card, that made things difficult but we could have snuck away with a win.
"It's amazing to look back at all of these games and remember them so vividly, they're all so special.
"But it's a tough place to go. Ask any nation, England, Scotland - no one has that good a record."
And he points out, winning in Cardiff sometimes can come at a cost.
"Even when we won there in 2013 we went on to finish [joint] last in the tournament, it doesn't guarantee you anything to get the win."
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