Is Aussie Pom bashing harmless fun, or is there real hatred?

When I talk to Aussies they love to hate Poms, they claim it is is good spirits (one guy said it was their national sport) and I can understand a healthy rivalry. But, I recently met some Aussies who changed my mind, they were so rude and spiteful, I know that you get bad people all over the world but they left an extremely bad impression of Australians with me. Are their opinions on poms more widespread?