ONE victory in the International Championship does not change everything and to suggest that all is well in the aftermath of what had been a bad run for Ireland would be extremely unwise. Nobody in the Irish team or the management was getting carried away by the victory in Cardiff. Ireland's coaching adviser, Brian Ashton, is a man not given to doing or saying anything without giving it profound thought. His perspective on the win last Saturday struck exactly the correct balance.

So too did Ireland manager Pat Whelan when he said: "The progress the team has made is very evident. The tactical approach Brian Ashton has brought to the side is being carried out." Then came reality when Whelan added: "As yet it is not perfect but the progress is evident."

When Ashton took over as coach he was quite specific in his stated objectives. "We must play a game suited to our strengths and talents. It is much better that we get players consistently doing what they do well rather than trying to do too many things, some of which they do not do well enough."

Even before he took his first coaching session in Limerick just three weeks ago, he had identified what he perceived to be Ireland's strengths after what he termed was little more than a cursory analysis of some of Ireland's matches. Then he added: "There are a lot of very good players in the Ireland team and I believe a powerful pack of forwards. We must now get the best out of them."

He has certainly made a very good start. The encouraging performance given against France in so many respects was given substance by the win in Cardiff. It is true that Ireland lived on the edge in the last few minutes and could have lost. The team had lost five successive matches and that invariably imposed its own nervous anxiety and psychological burden. Losing, like winning, can become a habit.

The losing sequence has now been ended, the psychological barrier breached and the importance of the win in Cardiff cannot be overstated. Indeed the England captain, Philip de Glanville, put it into perspective when he said about the match against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday week, that from England's viewpoint Ireland's win in Cardiff was not good news. "It is going to make it all the more difficult for us now against Ireland."

And Ashton, well aware of all the factors involved, made what was a very significant comment: "I look forward to the match against England with quite a bit of confidence."

That match represents a heady prospect now. What a huge difference it makes for Ireland to be going into the game with that win in Cardiff in the bank and Triple Crown hopes still alive. All five countries have now played in the championship, Ireland, Wales and Scotland twice, England and France once each. Ireland and Wales have one win each, France and England have both won the one match they have played and Scotland stand alone at the bottom of the table without a point.

Only two countries still stand a chance of winning the Triple Crown, Ireland and England, and the Grand Slam ambitions of only two also remain France and England. That says something about the competitive nature of a championship that, despite suggestions to the contrary when the World Cup was inaugurated, still retains its vast appeal both in the sporting and social areas It has always had a special significance and relevance and I hope always will.

It was put in jeopardy at the start of the season when England tried to do their clandestine television deal with Sky television. And while the contract for the televised rights now in place does not run out until the end of the current championship, Ireland, Wales and Scotland made it clear they would not play England this season unless they altered their attitude. That was not a game of bluff by the Celtic nations and anyone who believes it was is sadly misinformed.

Indeed an alternative programme of internationals involving Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France was in place with dates and venues finalised if England did not pull back from the brink and England knew it. Finally reason and justice prevailed at a meeting in Bristol that did not end until the early hours of the morning after England had been told they had reached the last chance saloon.

That is the fact and reality of what took place. Mr Rupert Murdoch's money is not a factor as yet but there is no doubt that it will be in the negotiations for a new contract to be put in place from next season.

There is an immense amount of speculation at the moment and talk and suggestions that Sky have tied up the contract and are going to pay up to £250 million for it. It has also been stated that the terrestrial channels will be frozen out, that it will be a Sky preserve, perish the thought.

Speculation is one thing, truth and fact another. The truth is that no agreements have been reached not alone signed with any broadcasting or television outlet. Ireland's representative on the TV subcommittee of the four home unions, Syd Millar, confirmed that yesterday.

"Figures are being quoted and statements made that agreement has been reached. I can state categorically they have absolutely no foundation in fact. They are speculation and nothing else. I do not know where the sums of money being mentioned are coming from," said Millar.

Getting tickets for the matches in the championship is still a major problem and many thousands of rugby followers in these islands have no means of seeing the matches other than on television. The matches are watched through terrestrial television by millions of people across these islands. That has to be a very important factor in the agreements reached on the contract and it is a factor that Millar readily admits has to be taken into consideration.

"The deal that is agreed must be of maximum benefit to the game. That was made clear when the problem arose in relation to England's deal. It is our responsibility to go with the best options available to us and while obviously money is very important especially in the current climate in which the game is being played, we must also be conscious of the marketing and propagation of the game and getting it to the widest possible audience, it is not only about money.

Millar added: "There could be agreement reached within the next six weeks or so, but anything that has been written and stated so far is no more than ill informed speculation."

When agreement was reached in the dispute with England, a press conference was held in Dublin. At that conference it was specifically stated that the interest of terrestrial channels and their millions of viewers would be protected. The distinct impression given was that, apart from England's home matches already committed to Sky, up to half the championship matches would be transmitted live on the terrestrial channels. Let us hope that such a commitment is not sacrificed to Murdoch's millions.