Williams injury hands Wallace a golden opportunity

DAVID WALLACE gets his chance to stake a claim to follow brother Paul into a British & Irish Lions Test team in Durban tonight.

The baby of the three Wallace brothers will start against The Sharks in the absence through injury of long standing rival, Martyn Williams.

Williams’ bruised shoulder has handed Wallace a golden opportunity to make his mark. He intends to take it.

But if he is to make the team for the vital first Test against the Springboks he needs to come to terms with the subtle changes in the laws, and interpretation of them, at the breakdown.

The Lions turned over 14 balls in their opening game against the Royal XV and exceeded that number in their two points win over the Free State Cheetahs Saturday. Wallace played at No 8 in the opening game, but will be back at openside flanker at the Absa Stadium tonight.

And that puts the onus on him to find a way to improve the Lions’ return at the breakdown. They know if they cough up the same amount of ball to the Springboks as they did to the Cheetahs’ Heinrick Brussow, the series will be lost.

Coaches, players and the media alike have been scratching their head about what has been going on at the tackle area, but Wallace is focussed on finding a solution. “There is a big onus on me, but also on every other player on the pitch. There are only so many rucks you can be involved in, so it is something for the whole team to concentrate on,” said Wallace.

“Everyone has the ability to steal the ball or slow it down for the opposition. The fact you can now get in there and stay there means it doesn’t really matter what jersey number you are wearing

“It certainly is a lot more difficult area than it was since they made the law change.

“In some ways it is a good ruling because the exponents who can get in there, can fight for the ball and stay on their feet get the chance to try to rob some ball. Before, it could be an easy out for the referee to shout ‘it’s a ruck, hands away’. Now the onus is on the opposition to actually get rid of the player. If he is on his feet, then he is legal. It makes things harder and is a mind shift in how you approach the game and get numbers there.”

Wallace will have the advantage of playing in tandem with Irish No 8 Jamie Heaslip, who is one of the best ‘bridgers’ over the ball in the tackle area in the northern hemisphere.

But the one factor the Lions haven’t been able to control so far on tour has been the new interpretation of the referees. England’s Wayne Barnes flummoxed many with his rulings in Bloemfontein last weekend and those of Jonathan Kaplan tonight will be critical to the Lions’ chances.

“You have to ride the referees and see what you can get away with. You have to react on the pitch,” said Wallace. “It is not just about numbers at the breakdown, but about quality and what you do when you are there. If you get it right you shouldn’t need more than two or three players.”

Meanwhile, Alun-Wyn Jones believes he is among four second-row forwards contesting one place in the Test team.

Such has been the Wales lock’s impressive tour form – and that of Scotland international Nathan Hines – some pundits have quietly questioned whether Paul O’Connell warrants a start against South Africa on June 20.

“He’s captain, so I would imagine he is going to start,” said the Ospreys forward. “You’ve got five second-rows, one of which is guaranteed his place, another four competing for the second starting spot, then three men competing for the bench place – so there is a lot of competition there.

“I am just really excited about the prospect of playing alongside Paul after competing against him for the last two or three years. I have a lot admiration for him, and I am looking forward to forging a strong partnership.

“If I want a Test place I know that I am going to have to play as a front lineout jumper. I’ve played four, five and six for the Ospreys, and I can assure you it is a lot easier to play four or five than in the back row. It is easier to go from four to five, than say 10 to 12.

“Five is the main ball-winner and does more decision-making. Four does a lot of clearing out and other work, not being the main ball-winner.”