World-class Wallace making up for lost time

GENUINELY world-class with ball in hand and hugely effective throughout the pitch, David Wallace faces into his 34th Heineken European Cup game at Thomond Park this evening intent on helping Munster into the quarter-finals for the sixth successive year.

Wallace has been an integral part of the teams that have reached the knock-out stages, but has also suffered the bitter disappointment of two final defeats and saw last year’s campaign completely wiped out by a serious shoulder injury.

“The lowest point was losing that first final to Northampton,” he said. “I’ve never wanted to see a video of that game. I’ve forgotten a lot about it even though I scored the only try. Thankfully, I went away on tour to the States immediately afterwards and got my first cap and that helped to ease the pain a little.