Wallace gets nod to renew family affair
IRELAND flanker David Wallace has spoken of his delight at following in the family footsteps and taking his place in the British and Irish Lions Test side.
Wallace’s elder brother Paul played in all three Tests against the South Africa in 1997 – the Lions’ last series success. Now, 12 years on, it’s David’s turn for a Lions debut after the 32-year-old was given the nod over Martyn Williams to take the No7 shirt for the first Test in Durban tomorrow.
Separating the pair at open-side flanker position was, arguably, coach Ian McGeechan’s biggest headache in naming his starting XV, and there was no prouder man than Wallace when the team was finally announced.
“We were informed last night in a team meeting and obviously it was a very nerve-racking moment,” the Munster player said. “I was just excited when I heard my name being called out. It is very special. Paul played 12 years ago in a Test series and if I can go half way to as being as good as he was then I’ll be delighted. It’s a huge challenge, a huge honour and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Wallace is joined in the starting line-up by England left-winger Ugo Monye, whose four tries in the warm-up matches earned him the nod over Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Williams, with Tommy Bowe starting on the right. Alun-Wyn Jones is one of six Welsh starters, partnering captain Paul O’Connell in the second row, while Gethin Jenkins edged out Andrew Sheridan for the No1 shirt.
O’Connell, however, was quick to praise those players who didn’t make the starting XV, insisting they remain pivotal parts of the Lions set-up.
“The way the guys have reacted is great,” he said. “A tour hinges on moments like this and Test selections. The atmosphere in the squad is what’s going to be carry us through the next three weeks – it’s good so far.”
DID YOU KNOW LIONS’ STAT ATTACK
&9679; This is only the fourth Test between the Springboks and the Lions at Durban with the hosts 2-1 up. The Boks were 7-3 winners in 1924 and then triumphed 3-0 in 1962, while the Lions’ only victory was the 18-15 success in 1997 under the captaincy of Martin Johnson
&9679; In 12 previous series’ between the two, the team who has won the first Test has gone on to take the series nine times previously – five for the Springboks, four for the Lions, while two more were drawn
&9679; In the Lions starting XV, there are six Welsh, five Irish and four English players. In the 22, there are nine Welsh, eight Irish, five English, and no Scots. Ospreys top the club aggregate with four players in the starting XV, and five overall, with Cardiff Blues, Leinster and Munster boasting two each
&9679; Ten players are making Lions debuts, while three; Tommy Bowe, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney have never faced the world champions. England’s Phil Vickery faces them for an 11th time and is chasing a sixth victory
LIONS TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA
15. Lee Byrne
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Brian O’Driscoll
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Ugo Monye
10. Stephen Jones
9. Mike Phillips
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Lee Mears
3. Phil Vickery
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Paul O’Connell (c)
6. Tom Croft
7. David Wallace
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
M Rees, A Jones,
D O’Callaghan,
M Williams, H Ellis,
R O’Gara