Edmund Van Esbeck On Rugby: Mike Gibson was the greatest centre threequarter of his generation, many would say the greatest of any generation. He is Ireland's record cap holder with 69 in an international career that started in triumph against England in Twickenham in 1964.

Then a 22-year-old student at Cambridge University, he gave a majestic performance that afternoon in the outside half position as Ireland beat England 18-5 and scored four tries in attaining the win, one of them still spoken about to this day as among the best ever scored at that famous venue.

A few months prior to his international debut he had given a performance of such quality for Cambridge University in the days when the university sides were liberally endowed with international players, that a first cap beckoned.

We knew that a very special talent had arrived on the scene.

And so it proved as Gibson went on to play international rugby until 1979. He played his last match at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground when Ireland beat Australia 9-3 and won the two-match Test series 2-0. His international career had spanned 16 seasons. When he played his last match for Ireland he was 36 years and 195 days and is the oldest man to play at international level for Ireland.

He played 25 times for Ireland at outside half, two on the wing and 42 in the centre. And while he was a splendid outside half, his talents blossomed to an even greater extent in the centre. He shares with Willie John McBride the record of having gone on five Lions tours and played in 11 Tests.

His playing career coincided with the golden era of Welsh rugby and he was to appreciate at first hand the quality of the Welsh back play when Wales had legends such as JPR Williams, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards and Gerald Davies at their disposal and others of the calibre of John Dawes, Steve Fenwick, Ray Gravell, and J J Williams.

In the pack they had one of the best number eights ever to play the game in Mervyn Davies, and the famous Pontypool front row of Charlie Falkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price.

Mike Gibson remembers all those players well and has a deep appreciation of their talents. Last Sunday he sat in the West Stand at Lansdowne Road and saw a Welsh team torn apart by Ireland. "That was a Welsh team that offered virtually nothing," he said. "You know that not even one Welsh player impressed. Things have certainly changed in Wales and that is unfortunate for them." But if he was disappointed in Wales, he was exhilarated by the Irish performance. "Whatever the limitations in the Welsh side, it was still Wales and putting 60 points on Italy does not compare with scoring 54 against the Welsh. Not just that but the manner in which Ireland played," said Gibson.

"It was a very special day for Irish rugby. It was an outstanding performance and no one should undervalue it and the quality of this Irish team. It was a complete performance from the entire squad of players. That was the most comprehensive performance I have seen from Ireland. That was incomparably better than the display from Ireland given in Cardiff when we won 36-6 in October. We put them away in that match near the end, last Sunday we had put them away by half-time and then went on to build on what had been achieved in the first half. That for me was especially satisfying.

"When I watch Ireland I always have a feeling of anxiety and it usually lasts throughout the game. Last Sunday that anxiety had gone after about 10 minutes so superior was this Ireland team. I was impressed with just about every aspect of their play," he said.

He then went on to compliment the Ireland coaching team. "I do not know Eddie O'Sullivan at all, indeed I have never met him. But he deserves great credit for the way he has that Ireland team playing and especially the backline. The improvement he has brought about in Ireland's back play has been remarkable. He encourages the team to attack and they do it very well. He has taken the fear element away."

THEN on the man now so often compared to him, centre Brian O'Driscoll, Gibson said: "The way he has used Brian O'Driscoll is a key element. O'Driscoll is a special talent, a talent to be trusted, to be used and be set free and that is happening.

"Then there is David Humphreys. He is a player of real substance and is playing high quality rugby in a vital position."

Turning to Peter Stringer he said: "He is a key man in the whole operation, he has transformed the Ireland back line play. His passing off either side is absolutely top class. Watching Ireland play now is exciting and that is the best compliment I can pay to the players and their coaching team. I thought the forwards played very well and intelligently.

"When one bears in mind that seven of the forwards played for Munster the previous week, their play was exceptional, even allowing for the limitations in the Welsh side." That assessment of the Ireland team from one the game's greats is a splendid accolade. He also believes that Ireland will give England a stern examination.

For Wales last weekend was a telling judgement on how deep their problems lie. Their senior side conceded six tries and 54 points to Ireland and the A team conceded eight tries and 55 points.

Graham Henry seen as "The Great Redeemer" after a good start to his coaching career with Wales, is the first victim of last Sunday's humiliation. He had reached the point where he was seen as a liability that Welsh rugby can no longer afford. His resignation came on Wednesday. It was scarcely surprising.

For many of the former Welsh greats in Dublin last Sunday such as Phil Bennett, Gerald Davies and Ray Gravell and the astute former international scrum half and Welsh coach Clive Rowlands, it was a sad day.

Rowlands said: "We have major problems but for a start we need a Welshman to coach Wales. Someone who understands the true nature of Welsh rugby."

But the man who takes over from Henry faces a huge task. Welsh rugby is in a state of deep depression and as some see it, a state of despair.