IT'S war on the Welsh rugby front, yet it's peace in our time in Ireland. How amazing that when the game in Wales is tearing itself apart, across the water everyone is of one accord.

Two visits to Dublin in little over a month have revealed a country that is booming, an economy that is flourishing, hotels choc-a-bloc, and sport is blazing a trail.

The soccer team have made it to the World Cup finals while the rugby side have beaten England, gained a record victory over Wales and pushed New Zealand all the way.

Ireland have become so confident in their own ability that the governing body has sacked New Zealander Warren Gatland as rugby coach and installed their own pairing of Eddie O'Sullivan and Declan Kidney.

The IRFU have contracted the top 120 players (they pay them, the provinces don't) and they move them around as they wish and tell them what they want.

When I suggested to a Leinster official that they had done well financially out of the two home Newport games he replied: "It's nothing to do with us, the IRFU take the money and they pay the players."

It's all accepted, everything is harmonious and the result is success on the field. Their teams are going well in the Heineken Cup and the Celtic League. Out of 28 matches played in both competitions between Irish and Welsh teams, plus the international, Wales have won a paltry two.

Yet in Wales the game is tearing itself apart with the leading clubs and the WRU on an absolute collision course.

And exacerbating the situation the Welsh management team, coach Graham Henry and team manager Alan Phillips, are also highly involved.

They are pressing hard, very hard, for a reduction in the number of clubs at premier level from nine to six.

The so-called leading six have formed their own organisation, Premier Rugby Partnership, and they want the other three clubs cut adrift.

That would mean Caerphilly, WRU-owned Neath and Ebbw Vale axed from the top flight. Meetings have taken place and the 'gang of six' retain the right to refuse to allow their players to appear for Wales.

They can do that because, unlike in Ireland, the top players are not under contract to the union.

It is the clubs who call the tune, the clubs and their benefactors who pay the players, so they have control over them.

But what are the WRU supposed to do? They could not even cut the clubs to eight at top level for this season, making it an odd number of nine instead, so how on earth are they going to vote for eight?

It would cost them a fortune anyway. Ebbw Vale and the WRU signed a 10-year agreement three years ago, so if Vale were suddenly cast aside not only would that be a massive decision to take morally, it would cost the Union millions of pounds in compensation.

And they don't have spare cash to throw around anyway. See what I mean about the game in Wales tearing itself apart?

All of this on top of the Sir Tasker Watkins-led report on the future of the game, which is due out any day.

That is not likely to recommend any reduction in the number of top clubs, but is expected to suggest reducing the funding for clubs under premier level.

The whole business is a complete minefield. Ireland are basking in a shaft of light, but Celtic cousins Wales are in a dark tunnel.

*PICTURED: Kiwi coach Warren Gatland has parted company with Ireland.