Rugby Union: Ashton's English accent is music to Irish ears

Wales (10) 25 Ireland (20) 26

Evans 2, S Quinnell Tries Bell, Miller, Hickie

Jenkins 2 Cons Elwood

Jenkins 2 Pens Elwood 3

By the time they get to Dublin in a fortnight, Brian Ashton, the man England wanted almost as badly, could be ensconced as Ireland's full- time director of coaching. The former Bath coach's agreement runs until the end of the Five Nations' Championship but, according to sources within the Irish Rugby Football Union, a representative of Ashton's agent was in Cardiff over the weekend, discussing a long-term deal for the 50-year- old Englishman.

Ireland's thrilling victory, which extended their unbeaten run in the principality to eight matches over 14 years, could well have a bearing on Ashton's future. The Ireland manager, Pat Whelan, is not given to demonstrative shows of emotion.

But while not exactly dancing a jig as his team ended a dismal run of five matches without a win, he was unable to suppress his excitement at the prospect of appointing Ashton on a full-time basis. "I would say it will happen very quickly," said Whelan at the team hotel later, "before the end of the season and possibly immediately the Five Nations is over."

If the opinion of the players counts for anything, however, then an earlier appointment could be on the cards. The prop, Paul Wallace, said: "It's vital for Brian Ashton to stay. All the lads want him to be appointed as soon as possible." Denis McBride endorsed that view, saying: "All the boys want Brian as full-time coach. He's brought a very positive attitude to the team."

Whelan added: "Brian is an innovative coach and that must be to Ireland's advantage." As for the man himself, Ashton said: "My appetite has been whetted. Any coach aspires to coach at the very top level and to be involved in international rugby again is a fantastic experience and something I didn't expect would happen this season."

There is a certain degree of irony that the match against England on 15 February brings Ashton head to head with Jack Rowell, under whom he worked for so long at Bath. "I'm looking forward to it," said Ashton, who went as assistant coach on England's tour to New Zealand in 1985. "I think it's fairly unlikely that Jack and I will speak to each other before then, unless we just ring to wish each other good luck," a pause, "tongue in cheek."

Even amid the euphoria of victory, Ashton was already focusing on the next match. "It's a massive job against England," he mused. "Over the last four or five years, they have been the side to beat in the championship. But we'll go into the game with confidence, without overestimating our ability and without underestimating theirs."

Confidence will certainly be the key. The thing that had members of the Irish entourage jigging with delight was that training-ground theory had succeeded when put into practice. "Two of our three tries were constructed on the training pitch," Whelan said.

There was little doubt in Cardiff that Ireland are on the way. There were Herculean efforts from Paddy Johns and Jeremy Davidson at the line- outs, while in the loose and on the floor the brilliant back row of David Corkery, McBride and Eric Miller repeatedly robbed a half-hearted Wales of the ball.

Indeed, Wales made so many basic errors and lost the ball so often in contact that it was a surprise Ireland were not further in front by half- time. Silly knock-ons and careless passes cost them dear after an electric start which saw Ieuan Evans scoring the first of his two tries after 31 seconds. The midfield was out-tackled by the maniacal Irish, with the shining centres, Maurice Field and Jonathan Bell, casting a shadow over Scott Gibbs and Gareth Thomas.

That Wales did come back owed as much to Ireland easing up - "We again played our famous 60-minute game," said Ashton with a wry smile - as it did to the Dragons finally rekindling their fires. The Ireland captain, Jim Staples, had the grace to admit: "When you finish an international one point ahead and five yards from your line you have to be concerned."

But at least they had a platform on which to build for England. Wales can draw confidence from some fine second-half play but they must iron out the unforced errors or France will pulverise them in Paris.

WALES: N Jenkins (Pontypridd); I Evans (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bridgend), S Gibbs (Swansea), D James (Bridgend); A Thomas (Swansea), R Howley (Cardiff); C Loader (Swansea), J Humphreys (Cardiff, capt), D Young (Cardiff), G O Llewellyn (Harlequins), M Rowley (Pontypridd), S Williams (Neath), C Charvis (Swansea), S Quinnell (Richmond).

Replacements: C Quinnell (Richmond) for Rowley, 63; K Jones (Ebbw Vale) for Charvis, 69.

IRELAND: J Staples (Harlequins, capt); D Hickie (St Mary's College), J Bell (Northampton), M Field (Malone), D Crotty (Garryowen); E Elwood (Lansdowne), N Hogan (Terenure); N Popplewell, R Nesdale (both Newcastle), P Wallace, P Johns (Saracens), J Davidson (London Irish), D Corkery (Bristol), D McBride (Malone), E Miller (Leicester).

Replacement: G Fulcher (London Irish) for Johns, 74.

Referee: W Erickson (Australia).