Johnny Watterson talks to a former rugby league expert who iskeen to prove himself in union.

Code-breaking is Mike Ford's expertise. Last week he walked into Ireland's squad session in Limerick as the team's new defensive coach. He may not have known all of the names or all of the faces around the ground, but by reputation most of them knew who Ford was and why he had arrived.

Regarded in Britain as innovative and a defence specialist, Ford arrived to teach a system he fervently believes worked for him when he played at the very top of the game in rugby league. The task of the former British scrumhalf is to instil a defensive league philosophy into the union game, one that will work for Ireland in this year's Six Nations.

"The players have responded brilliantly. The first camp in Limerick was a daunting task, but I found the players to be very responsive and eager, overwhelming actually," says Ford.

"There are still a thousand and one things to work on in defence. Everything won't be in place for the game against Wales. It will take time. Although I was down in Limerick I've only had between three and four hours with the guys, which is not a long time."

Ford's job is simple. It is to stop other teams scoring points against Ireland. It is to show players how to adapt to defensive situations - ones they may not be used to - and get them to work together, to be miserly with points and to stop tries going in.

"I've been trying to impress a philosophy on them. One or two players I've sat down with, and I've spoken to them about league, but most are happy to just to take it on board. One or two of the provincial sides have been dipping into it. But with Ireland I want to start at the beginning and follow it through to the end. It is a common-sense approach.

"The game in rugby league is more structured than in union. We know a left centre and a right centre are in certain positions in league, but in union you might find a prop in the centre or a winger in a ruck. These things happen regularly throughout a match. So you try to learn to defend with the player beside you.

"It could be Brian O'Driscoll, who is a quick player and elusive, or it could be stronger front-row player like Peter Clohessy. They have to adapt and be aware. It is getting players to defend together and to be aware of where they are and what they have to do."

The appointment of Ford was one of Eddie O'Sullivan's first decisions after he took over the head coaching job from Warren Gatland. Teased out of a contract with league side Oldham, which should have had him in the 13-man game until 2005, Ford is anxious to prove himself in a more global game. At 36, he also has the kudos of being young enough to be still regarded as a class player himself.

"I'm very, very passionate about defence," he says. "The philosophy will always stay the same, but there are different things we can tweak in the system depending on the teams we are playing against. Obviously the match against Wales at Lansdowne Road is going to be different to the one against England in Twickenham."

A former pupil of England defensive coach Phil Larder, Ford still keeps in contact and regularly speaks to his former teacher. Mastering the system is one thing, keeping it serviced and making sure continuity exists as new faces come in is also part of the job.

"I've been listening to Phil Larder. I think he's been with England now for three years and he's still doing things with the defence. In league, I've had players for that length of time and we're still repeating the drills. It does take time, although I suspect we'll never have the finished article. We're always striving."

In last season's Six Nations championship, Ireland conceded 89 points from five matches, England and France scoring just 15 points and 14 points respectively while Wales were soundly beaten 36-6 in Cardiff. But don't ask any coach to set the bar at a specific height.

"I've seen this system work," says Ford. "I've seen it work throughout my own career at the highest level. I know it will work in union under the greatest pressure and against the greatest teams. It has worked for me in league and I know it will work in union too."

From a player who has achieved so much playing the game, albeit in a different code, Ireland will perhaps look to the recent games against Scotland and the touring All Blacks for the more serious team lapses. While we won't be told how high the bar is being set, at least we know it is being set high.