Underage star itching for senior breakthrough

Interview/Paddy Wallace: Injury does not discriminate between young and old, is rarely opportune yet invariably provides a sense of perspective to the recipient as to the fragility of a professional sportsman's livelihood, writes John O'Sullivan

Paddy Wallace, fresh from a glittering underage career, the pinnacle of which was a World Cup triumph (Ireland under-19, 1998), had graduated to the Ulster senior provincial side, a precocious talent enabling him to switch from outhalf to full back.

Inclusion in the Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier against Russia in Krasnoyarsk seemed to underscore his potential to graduate to the Test arena.

His season came to a shattering end, literally, while playing for Ulster in a Celtic League match last September. The 23-year-old broke his right fibula, chipped a bone on the inside of his right ankle - and tore the ligaments to boot.

The upshot was an enforced six-month sabbatical from the game. The surgeon confirmed the time-scale prior to the operation.

Wallace conceded to mixed feelings in the immediate aftermath. "Obviously no one likes being injured and not able to play, but I had a very long season before this one mainly because I played sevens and didn't really get a break.

"Initially, I did enjoy the time away from rugby, which really only lasted about three weeks.

"Then I started to get a bit frustrated. I was in a full-length cast for the first three weeks, so I was pretty much sitting at home watching television because I couldn't do anything. Then I got it (the cast) stripped to half length and I was able to go to the gym and do upper body stuff.

"That kept me a bit busy for a couple of hours a day, but it was difficult filling in the time. I bought an apartment, and that took my mind off it (the injury) because I was trying to furnish it, a welcome distraction.

"I looked into taking up a course and in the end didn't, something I regret, looking back. I did spend as much time as I could with the Ulster squad trying to stay involved, even though you're stuck on the periphery.

"There was rehab, physio and all that, but I have to confess to spending a lot of time on the couch."

The objective that galvanised him throughout the recovery period was the possibility of making the summer tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa.

"It was always at the back of my mind, but I was wondering if I would have sufficient opportunity to try and convince them to take me."

His return to action included a stint on loan with Leinster (he didn't play) for the knock-out stages of the European Cup. He realised his ambition of making the tour, but even then there was to be a final niggle, sidelined in Perth until today with a bruised instep.

His ambition is simple. "I'd like to play at some level, love to get capped. The important thing for me right now is to be able to find myself comfortable at the level I'm being thrown in at."

Essentially considered a full back these days, Wallace is an accomplished outhalf and breaks into a mischievous smile when reminded that he spent a full season playing for the Ireland under-21 team at outside centre.

In the absence of Brian O'Driscoll, alternatives must be considered. "I must remind Eddie (O'Sullivan) of that," he laughed. "Prior to coming here I'd been running a lot at full back. With Paul Burke in there (the outhalf slot, along with David Humphreys and Ronan O'Gara), full back is probably the most likely position if I was to be selected."

Despite his footballing ability, the transition to full back has not been without teething problems, notably an admitted occasional fallibility under the high ball.

His desire to learn has seen him recognise and set about rectifying his limitations.

"I have improved my reading of the game. Being an outhalf you can appreciate what the opposing outhalf is trying to do. If he's kicking, you know to what side he'll choose, given a certain situation, because I instinctively know what he's trying to do.

"That's the advantage of having played at outhalf and moving to full back. What playing full back has made me realise is the importance of the basics, catching and kicking. It is concentration, but mainly on technique and repeating the situation time and again until it becomes instinctive."

What he craves now is game time, although whether Eddie O'Sullivan will be in a position to facilitate him is another thing when the tour hits the Pacific islands.

Full back, outhalf, inside centre, It doesn't matter. All he wants to do is play.