Wales coach Pivac hits out at Saints and England star Ludlam's 'hate' claim ahead of Scotland showdown

Pivac feels such pre-match rhetoric is totally unnecessary, and feels such talk is coming from the top, and head coach Eddie Jones, who ahead of England's opening defeat to France said their hosts would face 'brutal physicality' in what he said would be a 'violent' encounter.

The French went on to win that game 24-17, but it seems England haven't changed their tune, with Ludlam's pre-match press conference grabbing the headlines ahead of this weekend's Calcutta Cup date in Edinburgh.

Ludlam was annoyed at the perception that Celtic nations play with more passion than England, and said: "I disagree actually.

"We are emotionally there. They hate us and we hate them. There is no difference.

"It's just another place to go. It's a battle. It's going to be a war and it's something we are excited for and we will be ready for."

Ahead of Wales' trip to Dublin to face Ireland, Pivac was asked about Ludlam's comments, and said: "Hate is a pretty strong word, isn't it, and I don't think there is any need for that.

"We talk about getting in the trenches and all teams do.

"You are five metres out from their (opposition's) goal-line and five metres out from your own where you've got to dig deep.

"Yes, it's a contact sport, it's a gladiatorial sport and you've got to have the mindset right.

"Players are usually reflective of what they are hearing from coaching staff.

"It's the start of a competition, it's fresh, it's after a World Cup, so everybody is looking to get a bit of an edge.

"No matter who is the opposition, we have a job to do and that's try to win. Usually, to do that, you have to get parity of rugby up front and the basics of rugby have to be done well."