Ireland
Wallace made his Ireland debut against Argentina on 3 June 2000.
On 10 June 2000, Wallace was on the Ireland team that recorded their largest win by beating the United States 3–83.
Three lengthy injury-enforced absences hindered Wallace's international development. He only played in five games for Ireland until returning to start in the Triple Crown victory over Scotland in the 2004 Six Nations Championship — scoring a vital try in the process. He started again in both Tests in 2004 against South Africa. He did not return again to the Irish side until the second Test against Japan in June 2005, where he scored his fourth international try.
His form for Munster saw him earn a recall to the Irish set-up in 2006. He was present during the 2006 Six Nations Championship and the Summer Tour in June.
Wallace scored a try for Ireland in their 43-13 demolition of England in the 2007 Six Nations Championship, and his form saw him selected in Ireland's squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. He started all four of Ireland's pool games at the tournament.
He was a member of the Irish Grand Slam winning side in 2009.
He kept his place in the Ireland team for the November Tests in 2009, and played a crucial role in the win over South Africa. He played in all 5 of Ireland's 2010 Six Nations Championship games and won the Man-of-the-Match award against Italy. Wallace was in outstanding form for Munster throughout the 2009/10 season, and was selected in Ireland's squad for the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. He played against New Zealand and came on as a substitute against the New Zealand Maori before returning home for the birth of his second child. He played against South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina during Ireland's 2010 Autumn Tests, and became Ireland's most capped back-row player. Wallace played in all five of Ireland's 2011 Six Nations Championship games, including the 24-8 victory over England at Aviva Stadium that ended England's hopes of a Grand Slam.
Wallace was selected in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 World Cup warm-ups in August, and was also selected in the final 30-man squad. However, a knee injury sustained during Ireland's final warm-up game against England ruled Wallace out of the tournament in New Zealand.
Following the injury, he was ruled out of action for six months, which also ruled Wallace out of the 2012 Six Nations Championship.
Read more about this topic: David Wallace (rugby Union)
Famous quotes containing the word ireland:
“In Ireland they try to make a cat cleanly by rubbing its nose in its own filth. Mr. Joyce has tried the same treatment on the human subject. I hope it may prove successful.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“There is no topic ... more soporific and generally boring than the topic of Ireland as Ireland, as a nation.”
—Ezra Pound (1885–1972)
“Out of Ireland have we come,
Great hatred, little room
Maimed us at the start.
I carry from my mother’s womb
A fanatic’s heart.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)