DISASTER one day and triumph the next, international rugby is indeed an exacting and variable arena, with fortune fluctuating between the frustrations and disappointments of record defeat and the joy of a glorious, record victory in the space of a few weeks. Disaster followed by triumph. Sport is truly a reflection of life's vagaries.

Whatever lies on the road immediately ahead for the Ireland team, and whatever the limitations embraced in the side last Saturday at Lansdowne Road, they put an indelible entry into the record books by scoring 30 points against Wales in the International Championship. By so doing, Ireland not alone recorded their highest score against the Welsh, but also the highest attained against any opposition in 114 years of participation in the championship.

That the record should be attained in the 100th match between the countries adds to its significance. It also meant three successive wins against Wales, a feat last achieved 28 years ago.

That record achievement apart, what was especially satisfying from an Irish perspective was that the traditional Irish rugby virtues of passion and commitment to a cause were allied to opportunism, some astute leadership, tactical awareness and forward power. It was a potent mixture.

So the three frustrating years of waiting for an Ireland win in the five nations series on their heartland is over, the indignity of a whitewash is avoided. And while no one could say this was vintage fare in all its aspects, the win was not alone thoroughly deserved but invaluable both in tangible and psychological terms. And it offered encouragement for tests to come, the next of which will be against England at Twickenham on Saturday week.

The victory not alone embraced many commendable elements, it added to the level of satisfaction of a receptive audience that Ireland scored four tries.

Circumstances and performances were such that Ireland fielded a much changed team from the one that started out on the championship trail on a wet and windy afternoon in January. There followed the nightmare in Paris, and if one must hesitate to suggest that we are back again in a bright new dawn, at least Ireland emerged from the long dark shadows cast by the concession of 45 points a fortnight earlier.

The initial stages of the match were marked more by Welsh than Irish pressure, but this time there was no early capitulation or breakthrough the opposition that would leave Ireland with the task of trying to catch up before there was a possibility of going ahead. It was, in fact, Ireland who revealed the level of opportunism that enabled them to strike first, and it is scarcely surprising that it was through the pace and anticipation of Simon Geoghegan that Ireland took the lead in the seventh minute.

Welsh outside-half Arwel Thomas failed to find touch with a long kick, Simon Mason gathered and kicked just short of the Welsh 25, and Thomas was engulfed as he gathered the ball. Ireland gained possession and attacked on the right. David Humphreys realised that passing outside would leave Geoghegan with no space. Instead, Humphreys kicked towards the Welsh line and a beautifully placed effort it was. Geoghegan was in full flight and he got a kindly bounce to dive on the ball over the line outside the reach of the despairing lunge of Wayne Proctor. Mason missed the conversion from the touchline.

One got the impression that it might be Ireland's day. It most certainly was not young Arwel Thomas day; for him it was a telling lesson in his rugby education.

In many respects Geoghegan's try and the manner of its creation set the tone for Ireland's performance. It was characterised by the kind of relentless endeavour that Ireland needed and produced.

But there was a quick reminder that there would be no easy route to success. The Welsh attacked near Ireland's right corner and were held, but they retained possession, spun the ball left and weigh Davies made a fine break to sweep past Mason and make the hole in the defence that gave Ieuan Evans a clear run to the Irish line and he scored by the posts. Arwel Thomas converted.

The try had its own historical element. It was the first time that Evans, the leading try scorer in Welsh history, had scored a try in the championship on an opponent's ground. As events transpired, its value was to be statistical, not significant in fashioning the destiny of the match.

The Welsh lead lasted no more than five minutes as Mason kicked a fine penalty for Ireland from an acute angle 30 yards out - his first points for his country on an international debut made memorable for all the right reasons, both personally and in the team context. His performance not alone justified his selection, it was assuredly its own guarantee of a Twickenham appearance.

That Ireland never relinquished the lead is testimony to the depth of the Irish play and their ability to punish Welsh mistakes. The Irish were by no means error free, but theirs were far fewer than Wales and their rucking and mauling was infinitely better.

While Derwyn Jones was the main line out ball winner, Gabriel Fulcher did a fine job in this area and Ireland used and protected their possession better. The Irish scrummaging was superior, and it was especially good to see Nick Popplewell play so much better than of late in an Ireland front row in which his colleagues, Allen Clarke and Paul Wallace, were making their championship debuts. They served Ireland admirably and Clarke's line out throwing was superb.

Jeremy Davidson worked very hard, and the new back row of David Corkery, Victor Costello and Denis McBride served the cause extremely well. Costello's strength going forward was invaluable, Corkery was much more comfortable on the blind side flank and McBride was full of industry and made an effective return to the team (he gave Arwel Thomas a torrid afternoon).

Although one might query one or two decisions taken by Niall Hogan at scrum half, not only did he lead the side well, he played well. And if at times his passing was a bit wayward, he contributed handsomely to this win and formed an effective partnership with Humphreys, whose play was assured and perceptive. The outside-half, along with Mason, looks to be on the threshold of a distinguished career.

Jonathan Bell lifted the level of his recent performances, and while the centre partnership with Maurice Field may not endure, both played their parts in the win. The tackling was much improved from the Paris debacle.

Suffice to say of Geoghegan that this was a typical performance. His pace, and that of Niall Woods, were very important. This was Woods' first win in an Ireland jersey, and he made a considerable contribution to fashioning it. He scored a great try in the 25th minute and should have scored another just before the interval.

His score came after he fielded a poor kick by Arwel Thomas; he then chipped and chased, gathered the ball and scored on the left. Mason converted and Ireland led 15-7. That advantage was held to the interval, but Ireland should have added to their lead in a period of sustained pressure just before half-time.

Ireland scorned a penalty chance out on the right and another nearer the posts, and there was a case for a penalty try after Welsh captain Jonathan Humphreys deliberately impeded Hogan as he tried the quick tap. Following another scrum, the ball was moved wide right to left and Bell did well to keep the attack alive. Humphreys looped outside the centre, found Mason in support and the full back passed to Woods, who unfortunately, with the line open, did not hold the pass.

Wallace was over the Welsh line early in the second half, but was penalised for not releasing the ball after being tackled. Arwel Thomas and Mason exchanged penalties as Ireland had the better of play but could not move beyond their eight-point advantage.

Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Wales scored a great try. Ireland won possession, but lost it as Field kicked through but could not gather. Hemi Taylor did and provided the initial spark in a sweeping movement as the ball was moved wide left. The attack was sustained by Leigh Davies, then carried on through John Humphreys before Robert Howley gave Evans the scoring pass for his second try. Arwel Thomas converted and Wales trailed by just a point.

The manner of Ireland's response was a reflection of their dedication of purpose. Fulcher won a line out, McBride and Popplewell drove towards the Welsh line, Hogan made a little dart and then popped the ball up to Fulcher and he crowned his finest hour in the Ireland jersey to score. Mason converted, and Ireland were eight points clear again.

That lead was well protected as Humphreys kicked deep into the left corner behind the Welsh defence and Ireland tied the Welsh down near their own line with a series of scrums. Then Costello made a telling surge to just short of the Welsh line. Ireland won the ensuing ruck and Corkery emerged with the ball to score Ireland's fourth try. Mason hit the upright with the conversion attempt. The celebrations could begin, Irish rugby had regained its pride.