Wallace: Provincial pride still so relevant

As Leinster and Munster prepare to do battle at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, memories of past encounters provide a much-needed reminder of how relevant this fixture is in the Irish rugby landscape.

Munster’s magnificent 30-6 victory at Lansdowne Road in the 2006 Heineken Cup semi-final stands out as a particular highlight to former Red Army flanker David Wallace, who also recalls their defeat at the same stage in Croke Park three years later as being a particularly difficult one to take.

“I suppose 2006 [was a highlight] when we beat Leinster here, and Rog [Ronan O’Gara] scoring that try. That was the icing on the cake for us in that match and obviously to go on and win the competition then. It was a massive game for us and fond memories for us,” Wallace remarked last week.

“2009 when we lost [was disappointing]. It was almost the repeat game that we lost and I think we were slightly in decline and Leinster were certainly coming into their own. We struggled in that game and Leinster were certainly on top in the physical stakes, which kind of hurt more.”

Because this game falls under the umbrella of the Guinness Pro12, there has been quite a bit of debate about whether it is more important than the challenges the sides have already faced this season.

However, Wallace feels the fact that it is a league tie almost becomes a secondary consideration, and with Connacht making massive strides, the interpro series is as strong as ever.

“Everyone’s relishing this fixture, as they do every year. It transcends the whole Guinness Pro12 competition now and kind of becomes a match and a competition on its own. I think the whole interpro series as it used to be is taking on more relevance now with it being more difficult to get into Europe. It’s more competitive.

Looking towards the international stage, the subject of ‘project players’, and how they can affect the Irish set-up, has sparked plenty of reaction.

New Zealand-born Jared Payne is the latest to qualify for selection, and though he was held back in similar circumstances during his playing days, Wallace doesn’t have any major issues with this style of recruitment.

“I think it’s good that these guys just don’t come over, spend three years and get in the Irish team. They have to earn it and have to get up to that level, and it’s good that we have the guys ahead of them and keeping them out.

“Guys like Jared Payne will be a brilliant test case, to see how he adapts into the Test set-up. I was often held up by guys coming through that system. It’s not something that would bother me. You have to bring yourself up to that level if there are guys ahead of you,” Wallace added.