The turbulent winds of controversy and recrimination very often blow their vigorous path in sport after defeats, especially when expectations are high. Those winds blew with some regularity in Irish rugby in the 1990s. It was the decade of the coach.

Well, not quite the coach, the coaches: six, in fact, in the space of eight years. They came from different backgrounds, they had diverse difficulties. As the disconcerting and cold winds now blow in the face of current incumbent Warren Gatland, let us reflect on events, the better, perhaps, to appreciate the situation.

Jimmy Davidson was the coach for three seasons up to and including the 1990 championship: his teams had won three championship matches in three years. Davidson was succeeded by Ciarβn Fitzgerald, whose best result in two championship seasons was a draw with Wales in Cardiff in 1991. He had two near misses, in the World Cup quarter-final against Australia in 1991 and a 24-21 defeat in the first Test on the tour to New Zealand in 1992.

Fitzgerald resigned in November 1992 and was replaced by Gerry Murphy. During Murphy's tenure, Ireland had two wins out of three matches against England - Ireland have not beaten England since 1994 - three wins from four matches against Wales, including the World Cup match, and a draw against Scotland. Compared with what had gone on before, it was a respectable record.

After Ireland lost a World Cup warm-up match in Treviso against Italy, in May 1995, there were mutterings about Murphy's position, but he was on hand for the 1995 World Cup which brought an end to his tenure.

Then came the advent of the professional era in August, 1995. The IRFU set out in search of a coach. Bob Dwyer, the man who steered Australia to the World Cup in 1991, was plying his trade with Racing Club in Paris. An IRFU delegation set out to meet him, but no business was done. John Connolly, the then Queensland coach who had a spell with Old Belvedere, was sounded out, but was not available.

Time was marching on and Murray Kidd was appointed. The New Zealander had coached Garryowen and Sunday's Well before going back to his homeland. He had returned to the Cork club and he became the first foreigner to be chosen as Irish coach. Kidd had John Mitchell as forward coach. Mitchell subsequently filled the same post with England and two days ago was appointed New Zealand coach.

Ireland won one championship match under Kidd, against Wales in 1996, and there followed successive defeats the following season against Western Samoa, Australia and Italy, all at Lansdowne Road. On January 7th, 1997, Kidd's tenure was terminated.

Brian Ashton, who had enjoyed considerable success with Bath, was called in as a temporary measure. His first match was against France and Ireland put up a respectable performance but lost. Ireland then beat Wales in Cardiff in February. It was to be Ashton's only championship win.

He was handed a six-year contract, the longest given to a national coach. There followed a 46-6 loss to England and a 38-10 beating by Scotland. In 1997-98 Ireland lost to New Zealand, beat Canada and lost to Italy in Bologna. In the first championship match of 1998, Ireland lost to Scotland 16-17 in Dublin.

Ashton resigned. There were suggestions of a clash of personalities with the then Irish manager Pat Whelan. But Ashton had been given all the support he requested. Ashton, a personable man, never did understand the Irish rugby ethic. He knew he had made a mistake in taking the job. His resignation was entirely his decision.

Warren Gatland, who had coached Galwegians some years previously, came back from New Zealand to take over the Connacht post at very short notice in the autumn of 1997. He did a fine job, getting Connacht to the quarter-final of the European Conference (now the Shield.).

It was to Gatland that the IRFU turned after Ashton's sudden departure. He took over a very difficult situation. His first match in charge was away to France in Paris and Ireland lost very unluckily 18-16. It was the first of five consecutive defeats, including two on the tour of South Africa. The losing trend was arrested in the World Cup qualifying matches with wins over Georgia and Romania. Ireland beat Wales in Wembley in the 1999 championship and lost by a point to France in Dublin.

In the 1999 World Cup, Ireland lost in a quarter-final qualifier to Argentina in Lens, and when England swamped Ireland in Twickenham in the 2000 championship, the pressure mounted on the coach. He survived that crisis.

Then came a turnaround as, prompted by Munster's exploits in the European Cup, he changed the team radically and a 44-22 championship win over Scotland in Dublin - Ireland's first win over Scotland since 1988 - and wins over Italy in Dublin, 60-13, and France in Paris, 27-25, were followed by a 19-23 loss to Wales in the final match of the 2000 series.

Early this year wins over Italy in Rome and France in Dublin left Ireland placed for a championship challenge. Foot-and-mouth disease meant three matches were postponed. But going into the match last Saturday week at Murrayfield, Ireland had won five championship matches out of six. That was riches after what went on in the 1990s. Expectation was now high, especially after the way the Irish provinces have been performing.

The abject loss in Murrayfield has put pressure on the coach. He added to that pressure by addressing his contract desires in public. For the match in Cardiff tomorrow week he has recalled Mick Galwey and Mike Mullins to the squad, and Peter Stringer will play at scrumhalf. Gatland has learned that you select an Ireland team with the next match in mind and do not look beyond that.

The coach does carry the ultimate responsibility. When Ireland wins he is also entitled to some credit. He has not always recieved it. Nor should he take all the blame if the side loses. There is also an issue of collective responsibility. It embraces Gatland, Eddie O'Sullivan and the manager, Brian O'Brien - and, of course, the players.