Vital cog in a well-oiled professional machine

MUNSTER v LEINSTER INTERVIEW WITH DAVID WALLACE:If the Munster backrower has his way, Leinster will not be visiting the Promised Land reports GERRY THORNLEY.

MAYBE IT’S a figment of the imagination but somehow the build-up doesn’t seem quite as intense as it was three years ago. Rivers of water have passed under the bridge since then of course, and perhaps we forget the extent to which Munster were perceived to be the ones with the cause, making the trip to the capital amid fears that Leinster might reach the Promised Land before they did.

Privately, after two finals and so many annual near misses, that thought would have sent shivers through their collective spines. They’ve reached their Holy Grail twice since then and Ireland have followed up with their best championship in over six decades. Expectation levels are pitched differently but whereas Leinster fans were optimistic about their team’s chances then, they appear comparatively downbeat now.

All of which could, conceivably, work to Leinster’s advantage. They’re the ones with the chips on their shoulders this time. They’re the underdogs, they’re the ones chasing the Promised Land for the first time, they’re the ones nursing additional motivation from their smaller share on the Lions and Munster’s record allocation.

Munster merely have their well-oiled professional machine to rely upon, considerable in itself, but without any obvious causes this time around, a point which wasn’t lost on David Wallace during the week.

“Well exactly, I don’t know if we are overwhelming favourites or anything but I think it’s a lot closer than everyone thinks, and it’s going to be very difficult on the day.

“They beat us twice last year, and we might have had the upperhand this year. We’re Heineken champions, they’re Magners League champions so maybe having lost twice to us this year is going to be a huge motivation for them; that could put us on a mental back foot.”

Notoriously nervous as match day nears, Wallace claims not to recall too clearly the build-up three years ago. “But I’d imagine it was pretty much the same in terms of everyone getting to know what their job is on the day and the way we want to play and (how to) go and do that. There’s obviously the hype and the excitement surrounding the game – that adds to the motivation as well. I think everyone is looking forward to the game but knows how hard it’s going to be.”

Besides, he appears to have discovered more equanimity in weeks such as this. “You don’t have to read newspapers, you don’t have to watch the news or TV. I go home, I have a wife and an eight-month-old son, so that keeps you busy when you get home and helps you switch off and think of other things. When we come together on Friday, that’s when the waiting begins. That’s the hardest part. When you go out for the warm-up, I think everything tends to flow then and you can relax a little.”

Wallace and his team-mates look across at Leinster and see plenty of threats. “Obviously they’ve got outstanding backs. Rocky Elsom has been a huge addition to their side, guys like Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings have really come to the fore for them as well. Leo Cullen is back as well. Up front and in the backline they’re strong and have very few weaknesses. When you’re coming up against a team, you like to look for the weaknesses and they’ve very few.”

Three years ago, the likes of Bryce Williams and Cameron Jowitt seemed to be utterly overwhelmed by what hit them, but Wallace knows full well that nothing overwhelms Rocky Elsom. “Yes, he’s been outstanding for them this season. 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. He’s a great momentum builder for them.”

And, should Seán O’Brien make an appearance, the Munster openside will be coming up against the nearest thing to a David Wallace Mark II that has emerged in his dozen or so years on the circuit. “I’ve watched him play. He came on briefly against us in Thomond Park. He’s obviously a very explosive and talented player. If he’s involved we’ll have to watch him too.”

Not the least remarkable aspect of the so-called golden generation’s longevity is how consistently they have performed through well over a half century of Test matches and Heineken Cup games, and in excess of 100 games for their province, but Wallace maintains: “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.”

Now that a clutch of them are nearer the end of their careers than the beginning, they perhaps want to maximise their opportunities more than ever as well, but in any event, at 32, it’s doubtful whether Wallace has ever had a better campaign.

“I’ve been lucky this year; my injuries have been limited. The last pre-season went well, too. I usually pick up some kind of training injury in the gym. I was monitored well, 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.

“Then again, maybe it’s because I haven’t had any injuries to prevent me from doing it. That’s probably one factor.

“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.”

Justifiable reward has come with his first automatic Lions selection, as opposed to his late call-up in 2001, a point that he hasn’t been shy about making to his siblings, Richie and Paul.

“I let them know I was the only one to be selected as well, but we were all called up as well. It’s great but I suppose that’s on the back-burner for now, and it focuses on the next game because you don’t want to be clouded by anything else.”

Not that there would be much chance of that.