IT TOOK 11 minutes and 32 seconds for the question to be posed, one that's likely to inspire a familiar theme in the run-up to Ireland's next fixture in the Six Nations Championship, against Wales at Croke Park on Saturday week.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan was asked for his thoughts on Wales and facing the man, Warren Gatland, he succeeded in coaching the national side. He first chose to work on the broader canvas before getting down to the specifics.

"Wales are coming to town in a couple of weeks having won three out of three," he said. "I think we are building a bit of momentum ourselves.

"I suppose inevitably all you guys will be happy to talk about the fact that Warren is coaching Wales and I am coaching Ireland. I'm sure I'll be asked that question again in the next few weeks.

"In fairness to Warren, he's got off on the right foot, going forward, and as you saw back in 2005 when they got that sort of start in the championship, they really were a handful.

"We lost the Triple Crown to them in Cardiff and they went on to win the Grand Slam that day, deservedly so.

"We see that Welsh team back on the pitch, the same sort of pep in their step, the same confidence, and to be fair to Warren, he has produced that very, very quickly.

"They have to come to Dublin. This is our backyard and we are not going to give up anything easily. It's all to play for and I'm sure it's a subject that we will discuss again."

O'Sullivan expressed quiet satisfaction on more immediate matters, namely the five-try victory over Scotland.

He was asked to comment on the performances of Tommy Bowe and Geordan Murphy, and not surprisingly he praised both.

There were a few shortcomings in Ireland's game and O'Sullivan wasn't oblivious to the areas that Ireland will need to address ahead of the Welsh match; he would have noted in particular the lineout and contact areas.

But O'Sullivan's problems will be far fewer than the myriad headaches the Scotland coach will have to contemplate.

Disappointment etched on his face - and surely conscious many of his inquisitors weren't buying into his opinions - Frank Hadden nevertheless tried to be upbeat.

"Looking at the scoreboard at the end of the game was hard to bear; we put a lot of work into that game," he ventured.

"We got ourselves some excellent territory and our fair share of possession and still we crossed for (only) one try. It is extremely disappointing considering we conceded one or two soft ones. Two lineouts in the opposition 22 came back to haunt us, giving away a stupid penalty (Nathan Hines's punch) on the opposition's line.

"I believe it's a sign of lack of composure of this maturing but still relatively immature side."

It must have been torturous for Hadden to watch his side implode for the third successive match, dominating possession but frittering it away with clumsiness on the ball and lack of penetration.

It was impossible not to feel sympathy as each new question drew a pained expression or a rueful shake of the head.

Looking in the well of consolation, Hadden found barely a puddle although he did insist: "In some ways it was a wee bit better than last time (versus Wales).

"We played with a little bit more rhythm but not enough to break through the Irish side. The difference between the teams was the cutting edge. They took their opportunities extremely well and we have lacked that cutting edge.

"It sounds ridiculous to say it's a step forward because the scoreboard doesn't lie but we felt progress was made.

"We felt preparations had gone better; there was a bit more understanding in the players about what we are trying to do."

It was only when the impending visit of England was mentioned that a glint of real defiance appeared, Hadden promising Scotland will have little trouble in getting themselves up for that clash with the old enemy.

On the evidence of the Six Nations to date it's hard to believe his words were any more than whistling past the graveyard.