[budhabob]

I'm absolutely gutted to hear this. A true legend.

[bamboozle]

great player, unbelievable skill set and unnatural power.

[Spudmonkey]

My favourite Munster player, always was. Its a pity injury forced him out without a final big game.

[totallegend]

Originally Posted by Spudmonkey

Its a pity injury forced him out without a final big game.

Yeah, definitely, same for Horgan; it's one thing to be paraded in front of the fans in your suit, but it would be a whole lot better dying with your boots on, so to speak.

[twinytwo]

i believe it was kidney that said, that wallace was the ony player he had ever seen who got fitter and stronger as he got older.

[Fireball07]

My favourite rugby player ever, by a distance. An absolute legend, a phenomenally skilful player. He was still going as strong as ever pre-injury, and it's absolutely sickening that his career had to end like that.

We'll miss him... it definitely won't be the same without him around. He's been a fixture in the Munster team for the majority of the time that I've watched them.

One of the best try-scoring back-rows that we've ever had. Came up with some very important scores too, try in the HC final in 2000, that try against Sale, and plenty for Ireland as well.


Gutted to see him retire, I wish him all the best.

[TomsOnTheRoof]

Jesus, this is one of the saddest days I've had following rugby, not even the news about Penney could counter this. A true legend of Munster and Irish rugby if ever there was one. Without a doubt my favourite ever player. Met the man twice and a sounder fella you couldn't ask for. What a dark bloody day. Hope to christ he gets a swansong.

[padser]

Originally Posted by I am pie

A real Irish legend. If we had a rugby hall of fame he would waltz straight in there....well, he'd run straight through the front door with a few opposing back rowers trailing in his wake.

Yeah - if only we had a rugby hall of fame.....http://www.irupa.ie/halloffame.php


Great player - not absolutely world class like BOD / POC / Wood but very very close. Probably not well served by playing 7 for Ireland for so many years, he often struck me as the best 8 Ireland never had.

Very sorry that he didn't get the send off in the WC that he deserved and hope that his injury doesn't prevent him from leading a healthy retirement.

[shuffol]

Sad to see him retire but at the same time wouldnt have liked to see him come back not the same player, Peoples only memories will be of him at his best, heroic player and a winner all through his career. Biggest regret for me is not seeing him lineout in the same backrow as Ferris and SOB. Have we ever produced 3 finer athletes with skills to match.

[twinytwo]

Originally Posted by shuffol

Sad to see him retire but at the same time wouldnt have liked to see him come back not the same player, Peoples only memories will be of him at his best, heroic player and a winner all through his career. Biggest regret for me is not seeing him lineout in the same backrow as Ferris and SOB. Have we ever produced 3 finer athletes with skills to match.

Wallace at 7 with SOB at 8 would have been quite something

[razorblunt]

Originally Posted by twinytwo

Wallace at 7 with SOB at 8 would have been quite something

Could have rivalled the Dallaglio - Back - Hill, impact wise.

Legend of the game. He just seemed to be getting better and better.

Welcome to the gammy knee brotherhood Wally!

[Foxtrol]

Originally Posted by twinytwo

Wallace at 7 with SOB at 8 would have been quite something

Probably would be even less balanced than the current Irish one but would at minimum scare the bejesus out of the opposing outhalf anyway.

*presuming you had Ferris at 6 as well

[phog]

So disappointed for him to end his career in this manner, he was always on my team sheet, strangely in a way as I always wanted Martyn Williams on my team too and both played 7 but in a very different style.

On the field of play he certainly never left anything behind him and was so unlucky to miss 2 world cups due to serious injury, both sustained in pre w/cup warm games.

Best of Luck Wally.

[JP Liz V1]

Legend wish him all the best

[Anatidaephobia]

Out of all the Munster retirements in the year this saddens me the most. He was an unbelievable player, and he really was improving with age. I hope he does well for himself in life after rugby.