Warren Gatland on Ireland showdown: 'You respect them, but you are desperate to want to beat them'

Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has accepted there is "added spice" when his team take on Ireland at the weekend.

The showdown in Cardiff comes on the final day of the Six Nations tournament, with Wales hoping to sign off with a title and Grand Slam. Victory against Ireland would mean a third Grand Slam for Wales under Gatland's coaching.

It comes after another win for Wales in Edinburgh against Scotland.

Gatland pointed to the existing relationships between the Wales and Ireland players for providing that "added spice".

"We respect them hugely for what they have achieved. They are number two in the world, and their provinces have had a lot of success in the PRO14 and in Europe, and sometimes it can breed jealousy."

His comments come after a week of upset for Welsh regional rugby.

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"You respect them, but you are desperate to want to beat them. That sometimes creates the edge. A lot of it stems from that."

He added: "For our group of players I know they get incredibly motivated to play against Ireland, as they want to beat them because a lot of them have been on the losing end on a number of occasions, particularly to their provincial teams".

If Wales win on Saturday, Gatland would become the first coach in Five or Six Nations history to mastermind a clean sweep three times.

Speaking at that possibility, Gatland said: "If we do that it would be unbelievable".