Another era, of sorts, dawned on Irish rugby yesterday when the IRFU finally confirmed that Warren Gatland has been appointed as coach to the national side until the end of the 1999-2000 season, and that Donal Lenihan has been appointed team manager for the coming tour of South Africa.

An IRFU spokesperson has confirmed that Gatland will have "more responsibilities and power than any of his predecessors", though how this translates into practice has not been detailed. Nevertheless, it is believed Gatland has a veto over team selection, control of selection for squad sessions, and more of an input into player contracts and playing structures.

Gatland said he hasn't "really thought past South Africa", which he sees as an ideal time to work on a daily capacity with the 36 or so players who will be chosen early next week for the tour, and thus continue the work of the last two months.

"From my point of view, there's a long way to go, in terms of playing the game at pace, cutting out the costly errors that disappointed me in the Five Nations and starting to convert more of the opportunities we create, if we are going to be successful."

While agreeing that South Africa are currently one of the best two sides in the world, Gatland said: "I can't for the life of me understand the argument that we shouldn't be going there. You've got to play these type of sides in a World Cup year. Otherwise you just end up playing in the comfort zone. After we played England, I would have liked to play them the following week, and the week after."

In the long-term, Gatland would like to see more of an Irish-based squad, but admits that that depends largely on the current round of negotiations between the union and the England-based players who are considering coming home.

He points out that Ireland have never finished above fourth or fifth in the Five Nations over the last 10 years. "Therefore we've got to set realistic targets, such as finishing at least third next season. I personally believe we have a better side than Wales and Scotland, and that we're closer to France and England than many people think. So we have to get on the tail end of France and England, and distance ourselves from the others. Whether we can, we'll have to wait and see."

Gatland and Lenihan will be the selectors in South Africa (which raises the question as to which of them has the casting vote), with a third selector to be brought on board for the start of next season. Lenihan, who is manager of the Irish Permanent in Cork, and the union will then review his position as well.

"The union are looking at changing the role of the team manager," admitted Lenihan. "Warren is now the number one, and I have no difficulty with that. I feel that's the way it should be."

The 34-year-old Lenihan, who won the last of his 52 caps six years ago, does not see the need for a full-time manager. He hopes he can be "an ideal go-between, between the players and the union".

Lenihan points to his involvement as manager of the A team and recently as a selector with the Irish senior side as helpful "in witnessing the transition from amateurism to professionalism".

Meanwhile, his predecessor until this week, Pat Whelan, has claimed that "there is no other reason" for his resignation other than "time and commitment. I cannot give six months for the job."

Whelan, who has been selective about speaking to journalists this week, was quoted in yesterday's Limerick Leader as saying: "There is no other reason that prompted my resignation. My resignation is solely for that reason."

As to reports of an alleged altercation with a journalist in a Limerick hostelry late on Sunday night, Whelan was quoted from his construction company office as saying: "I have absolutely no comment to make on anything else. I have always been strictly a rugby man and that is where my interests lie."

Whelan was again unavailable for comment to this newspaper yesterday.

Gordon D'Arcy, the prodigiously talented Irish Schools and Clongowes Wood College full back, this week encountered a conflict of interests which must be both the dream and the nightmare of any budding rugby player.

Inquiries were made about his availability for the Irish squad's seven-match, two-test tour of South Africa which begins at the end of next week, but unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he had a conflicting commitment - his Leaving Cert exams.

D'Arcy is big and strong for his age, and was arguably the player of the year at schools level.