WHAT influence Brian Ashton, the new coaching adviser to the Irish team, can exercise in arresting the team's losing sequence is a question that will be answered in the course of time. And with Ireland due to play the first match in the international championship against France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, time is not on Ashton's side. But he has already identified as a priority the absolute necessity to restore to the team the traditional characteristic of "Irish passion".

Ashton, accompanied by Ireland manager, Pat Whelan, held his first press conference since his appointment in the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick, yesterday.

If he does as well with the Ireland players as he did yesterday at the press conference, then happy days may well be here again in the near future. Personable, realistic and articulate, he gave no bland answers or empty promises, did not attempt to diminish the magnitude of his task, neither was he prepared to accept a pessimistic premise. He believes that he will be working from a base that includes "some really top class players".

The questions came in, they were answered without hesitation. How does it feel to be asked to do for Irish rugby what Jack Charlton did for Irish soccer? "It feels absolutely marvellous. I am a patriot Lascastrian who lives in England. For the next six weeks my blood will be as green as that of any Irishman." Not a bad start.

"It would be nice to think that I could get the same success as he did. It is my intention to talk to Jack if I can, but I think he might be gone fishing at the moment."

Ashton added: "I believe in total rugby, but my initial task is to simplify the Irish game. I believe in simplicity and not complication." He sees it as an integral part of the simplicity in the context of the Irish game the need for the side to play with passion. "As long as I can remember when England players went to play in Dublin, they knew they would get a match and what to expect. The Irish were a frightening sight."

I face an extremely exciting four games. The first priority in that sequence is the match against France on Saturday and I will try and focus the team on what they can do well. I will attempt to simplify some of the things they have been trying to do. I want them to be good at doing maybe a smaller number of things than mediocre over a larger area. I have had a close look at the French team and feel one or two things can be put into operation that might surprise the fans. We will work on them during the week.

"I have not as yet got to know the Irish players. The only ones I know are the ones who play in the English League. I would of course have been seeing them as opponents. I have not had an opportunity to study in detail the videos of Ireland's performances this season, because everything has happened so quickly. But I have seen enough to be able to discern what kind of rugby the team has been trying to produce. I have already spoken at length to Mick Brewer and Pat Whelan."

He said he had made his decision to join forces with Ireland within 24 hours of the offer. On the suggestion that he had been approached by England coach, Jack Rowell, he said: "I never at any time spoke to Jack Rowell specifically about any involvement with England.

He continued: "We must now identify what kind of game suits this Ireland team. There are some outstanding players in the Irish side. It is now a question of making sure they all understand that they must and want to play in the same way. That is critical at the moment. I have a picture in my mind for the early games of a pattern of play and certain things I feel Ireland has the players to put into effect on the field. My concept of total rugby is making use of all the talents of all the players in any one particular game.

Then came a warning. "I do not like players to hide. I like players who stay up front and take personal responsibility. I like a game that is exciting for the players to play and is equally exciting to watch. I will not reveal any of the plans we are trying to put into operation this week for the match against the French. I do not like the phrase game plan, but you adopt different methods and tactics related to the opposition".

"A five man management team may not be seen as the ideal scenario, but in fact that is really what operates in most of the rugby playing countries. But equally I must say that I do not believe either that you can have just one man. That is unrealistic. You must have help in areas and advisers. That is the reality.

"The expectation may be low now for Ireland but the Irish are at their most dangerous in those circumstances. I am perfectly comfortable with the situation I have come into."

He had the players out for two and a half hours at the Limerick University grounds. We could be in for some exciting times ahead.