Suggestions of an impending divorce may have been premature, but the veracity of reports of disharmony within the Irish team management were sustained at Suttonians RFC yesterday. Irish coach Brian Ashton confirmed: "There have been differences of opinion but they have been sorted out. We did have one or two things to talk about."

Ashton and Pat Whelan adopted a united front to reject the implications of a weekend newspaper article calling for the team manager to resign, but they did concede there were issues which needed to be addressed.

In this respect, Tuesday night's meeting, which was also attended by selector Donal Lenihan, was important in resolving several areas of concern and eliminating any misconceptions as to the precise roles of the protagonists.

Central to any breakdown in communication is the differing backgrounds, in rugby terms, from which Ashton and Whelan came before they entered into partnership, a point which the Irish coach alighted upon. "Pat's Irish, I'm English, Pat's an amateur, I'm professional."

Taken out of context, this would simply have fuelled the belief of a rift. But the point Ashton appears to be making is that individual expectations are different, as is the manner in which he and Whelan would approach a task. Prior to the meeting this would have been a stumbling block and a cause for friction. In the future it still may be.

Whelan initially suggested that the get together was nothing out of the ordinary, but finally admitted it spanned more diverse topics than selection. "We had our normal meeting that we have prior to squad sessions," he said, before adding, "We had a long discussion prompted by the totally divisive articles that were printed last weekend.

"We covered a lot of things that have happened over the past 12 months."

Later, he offered the contradiction that the "meeting wasn't planned but it took place as a result of the articles last weekend".

The team manager's offer of conflicting statements in his initial desire to limit information did not augur well as he tried to diffuse a tricky inquisition. But he became more expansive in his assertion that all problems had been resolved. "Brian Ashton, myself and Donal (Lenihan) will go forward from here and we are looking forward to the Five Nations.

"The meeting was very productive. In the normal course of events, when you get a new management team, there are various things that crop up from time to time to be discussed. We took the opportunity to review the progress that we have made and the various things that have happened over the past 12 months."

Ashton was less circumspect about the teething problems, conceding: "There are bound to be differences of opinion at times. As Pat said, we talked about it last night. If there are any differences of opinion, they are going to be resolved . . . or they are resolved. We look forward to the Scottish game."

The Lancastrian did admit he might have approached the situation differently when asked why he had simply offered a "no comment" when asked to discuss his relationship with Whelan, and he was aware that his silence had fanned the flames which threatened to engulf the Irish team management structure.

"I can understand that, and maybe, from that point of view, I should have said what I should have said.

"But I didn't comment because I hadn't spoken to Pat about it. I'm not the sort of person that would comment on something like that without speaking to the other person."

Whelan reacted angrily when asked whether he felt he should resign, given a number of unattributed quotes from players in the squad expressing their displeasure at his style of management. He ventured: "No, absolutely not. The members of the squad who have spoken remain unnamed. Since then I have spoken to a lot of the squad who have told me that they are happy with the management team as it is.

"We have a squad of 34-38 players, by far the majority have no problem. There are always going to be disaffected players for whatever reason who have a gripe with the management. If they are asked the right questions then they will give the answers required or at least be ambivalent."

The duration of the present arrangement will be directly related to Ireland's fortunes on the pitch. While differences have been resolved, at least outwardly, it is difficult to see the men in question enjoying anything more than functional working relationship.

On field matters were no less frustrating for the management team. No fewer than 10 players left the pitch during the two and a half hour training session at a windswept and rain sodden JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds.

Some, Nick Popplewell (hamstring), David Erskine (elbow) and Conor McGuinness (stress fracture) never even shed their civilian attire. Popplewell is expected to return to action, for Newcastle in a cup match on Saturday week. Erskine may play at the weekend while McGuinness's problem is a major concern and his comeback date is unknown: he will have to play by Saturday week at the latest.

Eric Miller (flu), Malcolm O'Kelly (hip) and Paul Wallace (calf) were early casualties later joined by Graham Heaslip and Alan Quinlan, both of whom were late additions to the session themselves. A frustrating aspect for Ashton would have been that the proposed match at the end of the session was somewhat less competitive, given that the shadow side could only muster nine players.

Denis Hickie (exams), Gabriel Fulcher (knee) and Kevin Maggs, who broke his nose in Bristol's cup match on Tuesday night were noted absentees.

The Ireland team to play Scotland at Lansdowne Road on February 7th will be announced on Tuesday, January 27th.