Wallace: Time to build momentum

MISSED out, called out, dead cert; David Wallace has run the gamut of World Cup selection scenarios yet even a three-time Lion still gets nervous when crunch time comes and squads are being named.

And so it was earlier this week when Declan Kidney named the Munster back row forward among his 30-player pool that will head to New Zealand next Tuesday for the World Cup.

Wallace will start Ireland’s final warm-up game at the Aviva Stadium against England tomorrow having overcome a hamstring-related injury but eight years ago, the now 35-year-old was on the outside, a Lion omitted from Eddie O’Sullivan’s travelling party to the finals in Australia, only for injuries to see the former head coach send for him.