Wallace answers Ireland’s call, but gutted for Quinlan

IRISH flanker David Wallace has mixed feelings about his call-up to the World Cup squad.

Despite his obvious joy at receiving an early morning telephone call from coach Eddie O’Sullivan, Wallace admitted to being “gutted” for injured colleague Alan Quinlan.

Wallace had only time to “throw a few things into a bag” and take off on a lunch-time flight for Dublin, where he was issued with Ireland’s World Cup gear last evening prior to his long journey to Melbourne via London and Singapore.

“Actually, I’m not quite sure of what route I’ll be taking, but I won’t complain no matter how long it takes me to get there.

“One minute I’m watching the end of the Irish win over Argentina and shortly afterwards I’m told to get on the first plane out of here. It’s a bit like a whirlwind and I am obviously delighted.”

Wallace, a surprise exclusion from the squad in the first place, still had time to feel for his Munster and Irish colleague and friend Quinlan, who dislocated his shoulder in yesterday’s victory. “He got a brilliant try and it was a tragedy that he injured himself in the process of getting it.

"No player in this Irish squad wishes ill on another and I actually feel gutted for Alan. He is a great guy and was shaping up to having a great tournament. It’s really tragic from his point of view.”

Wallace spoke to the Irish Examiner minutes before his flight out of Shannon and expressed his delight that Ireland had sealed a place in the last eight of the tournament.

“It was a very tight game but I don’t think anyone in the Irish team or camp was surprised

“One would have to feel sorry for Argentina that they are now gone from the tournament, but there can be absolutely no apologies that Ireland beat them.

“I think we owed them one really. It was either them or us and I am obviously very happy that Ireland have gone through. That win takes a lot of heat off the lads. This was the really big pressure game of the group and I think they will be much more relaxed for the last game against Australia.

“It really doesn’t matter who Ireland meet in the quarter-finals because it’s a knock-out situation. Any team, as Samoa proved, I think, against England can lift their game for a particular match.”

Wallace’s departure for Australia will, of course, be a blow for Munster in the coming weeks.

The big flanker has been in flying form for the province despite his initial disappointment at being left out of the national squad.