Talk is cheap when national pride is in play

WORDS certainly mean less than actions to David Wallace, the Irish open side flanker. Wallace is not motivated by insult or innuendo; only by the pride associated with selection for the national side.

So it matters little that South African coach Jake White might mouth off about the Irish; means nothing if he says only three of the Irish team would be worthy of selection for the Springboks, as he did on his last visit to Ireland two years ago.

Wallace holds a simple view on such sideshows: “Some people might use that as a motivating factor, but it’s enough of a motivation for any player, certainly for me, to put on the Irish jersey and play for my country. Therefore, I don’t take much stock of this war of words situation.