Wallace: we must box clever
Munster have lost four from eight matches in the Magners League and were defeated in their opening European game in Northampton.
Now the Irish international has demanded that the Reds learn the lessons of a collapse to the Ospreys in Wales last week to get their stuttering season back on track.
“Perpignan are big strong, physical guys too and if you run into the teeth of them it’s going to be very dangerous. We have to be cuter in where we play them. And I suppose we have to be hyper-efficient at the breakdown and have a great sense of urgency.”
The last time the two sides met in the 2006 campaign, Munster came out on top after a bruising encounter at Thomond Park. Wallace – who missed last week’s capitulation to the Ospreys due to a back injury which flared up after the Springboks game in Croke Park – is expecting the same approach from the visitors.
“They’re a very, very physical team and there wasn’t much room to manoeuvre,’’ he said. “It was quite a boring game if you look for open flowing rugby but it was a very tough game and probably one of the most physical I’ve played in the Heineken Cup. It’s hard to know how many of them are left since then but I’d say not much has changed really.
“Down through the years, it’s been the same; we expect nothing else.
“But we’ll concentrate on ourselves and play whatever’s there and not worry about that. We have a style of play we want to play and pattern we want to put on our game and I suppose it’s up to them to worry about what mind frame they’re in.”
Limerick, this week, is once again a lady in red as the Heineken Cup buzz returns to the city. Wallace is relishing his return to the provincial fold and was raring to go in his first training session with his old friends in Thomond Park this week.
“Coming back, there’s a good freshness and things certainly don’t get stale in Munster. (We’re) all very much aware of the work the management put in and the time they put in to decide what way we’re going to play, getting info on other teams.
“But that’s always the case and we’re going to do it for ourselves and the supporters as well. We want to have a good day here on Friday and get back to winning ways.
“But it’s just great to be back involved. I was running around full of beans – that was my first Munster training session there this week. And there was a good sense of urgency and guys were on top of their game,” he added.
Whatever the French may throw at Wallace et al tomorrow night, at least he and his Ireland team-mates have the perspective of a showdown with the Springboks last month. While the Irish pack is no longer totally red, the Munster influence runs through it like lettering in a stick of rock; that must be some cause for confidence.
“Obviously it’s not a total Munster pack – there was a bit of an influence alright,’’ Wallace said. “But you have to have faith that you can play the best in the world and beat them. It’s one thing saying it and one thing believing it. And we show that attitude I think.”
Meanwhile, Ronan O’Gara lines up ball after ball, on the training pitch, as he arrows each between the posts. His team-mate has no worries the out-half will find his range again, sooner rather than later.
“He’s no different than the rest of us; coming off the loss we want to put things right. It’s such a big game for us – playing at home against the French champions takes the attention off of everything else.
“You always hurt after every loss but we just have to forget about that and learn what we can from it but just go out and play with huge intensity and urgency.
“I think facing into a different competition – the Heineken Cup –especially facing the French champions you really have to have your A game. It focuses the mind when there’s a strong French team coming to Thomond Park. You have to win your win games, simple as that.’’
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