Hard Yards
ON JULY 8 David Wallace will celebrate his 33rd birthday. Already this season the powerful-running openside flanker has played a major role in Ireland winning its first Grand Slam since 1948, and is on the cusp of a first Magners League title too.
Of more pressing concern, though, a win over provincial rivals Leinster in Croke Park tomorrow will see Munster on the road to Edinburgh on May 23 and a tilt at retaining the Heineken Cup. Should all those presents come to pass, the icing on that birthday cake would be a test series win for the Lions over South Africa. A truly magnificent season in prospect then, but, given that Munster will also have another six tourists going to South Africa in June, four of whom also played major roles in Ireland’s Six-Nations win, not unique.
There is a little extra incentive for David – bragging rights. In a family with the unique distinction of having supplied three brothers to the Lions, already David has stolen a march; unlike Richard in 1993, Paul in 1997, and David himself in 2001, when all three joined the party as late call-ups, this time David has been selected from the off. If all goes to plan then David will join Paul, the scrummaging rock on which the 1997 tour prospered, as one of those rare breed of Lions who have enjoyed a test series win; add all those other gongs, however, and there’s no doubt who will have the last word in the Wallace household henceforth.
“I let them know I was the only one to be selected as well,” he grins, the enjoyment obvious, baby brother finally putting one over the elder siblings. “It’s great, but that’s on the back-burner for now; focus on the next game because you don’t want to be clouded by anything else.”
You don’t, especially not when faced with the challenge Munster will be met with tomorrow. Where Leinster were traditionally laughed at down south as the Ladyboys, a flashy backline behind a powder-puff pack, the boys in blue are now a considerable all-round force, as evidenced so convincingly in their backs-to-the-wall quarter-final win over Harlequins.
It’s in the back row, though, that this game could well be decided, and what a prospect is in store here for all rugby fans. Across from David in the scrum, at blindside, will be fellow Lion Alan Quinlan, a guy who, at 34 and with another superb season under his belt, has nothing to prove to anyone anymore, while between them, a guy who surely has – Denis Leamy had an injury-interrupted season, missed several high-profile games, – missed out on Lions selection. He’ll be hungry!
Facing them, an equally impressive trio. Jamie Heaslip was the man who took Leamy’s green jersey, and he was rewarded for his barn-storming efforts with one of those coveted Lions places. At blindside is Leinster’s player of the season, Australian international Rocky Elsom, a guy who has impressed everyone on this side of the equator in the last few months, not least David Wallace. “He’s been outstanding for them. He’s obviously a big, strong, physical fella, but he’s quick as well – he does a lot of damage when he gets the ball. He makes a lot of breaks and scores a lot of tries, a great momentum-builder for them.”
Rest assured that in time-honoured Munster fashion, every time he puts his hands on the ball Rocky will be targeted by all in this Munster pack. The final member of the Munster backrow could see coach Michael Cheika perm any one from Shane Jennings, back to his best recently, or newcomer Seán O’Brien from the Tullow club in Carlow. Shane is long established, a seasoned player at this level, full international, came very close to Heineken Cup glory when with Leicester; Seán is a bit of a bolter, a marauding Richie McCaw playalike who thrives in the contact area defensively, master of the turnover, then loves to run. He too has caught the eye of his Munster counterpart. “I’ve watched him play, he came on briefly against us in Thomond Park. He’s obviously a very explosive and talented player.”
One worry Munster fans will have this week, and it goes back to the opening paragraph – having won so much in such a short period of time, will the edge still be there? Is the fire still raging?
“I think it’s very easy – just being involved with the crowd of guys you’re involved with. It’s a very special place to be, and I think we work for each other. There’s never any thinking about working hard – you don’t have to think twice. It’s a pleasure to work hard and play hard with these guys.”
Certainly his own form this year has been magnificent, and consistently so; it’s taken until now, 160 Munster caps, 55 for Ireland, but finally David Wallace appears to be comfortable in his skin, confident in his own ability. “I’ve been lucky this year,” he says. “My injuries have been limited. The last pre-season went well too. I usually pick up some kind of training injury in the gym, but I was monitored well, I know what to stay away from and what to do. Fitness was worked on a bit more this season as well – maybe fitness has had an influence. Also I’ve learnt a lot over the last 10-12 years being a professional, especially in the last two or three. The coaches we have now at Irish and provincial level have been great and have brought whole new standards and ways of looking at things in terms of coaching and learning about the game.”
All set then, all roads leading to Croke Park. “I don’t know,” muses Wallace, “maybe this weekend it’s more of a home game for Leinster, playing in Dublin, so it’ll be a little bit different in that way.” Ah come on, David, do you really believe that? Wasn’t 2006 supposed to be the same, in Lansdowne Road, yet the place was a sea of red, Leinster supporters swamped? “Yea, but that was then, this is now. I think Leinster support has really grown down through the years as well, there’s a lot of fighting for tickets.”
A battle off the field, too then, but only one outcome matters.
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