John O'Sullivan gets the views of former Munster and Leinster prop Paul Wallace

Paul Wallace is uniquely placed in the context of the Leinster/Munster rugby rivalry. The former Lions and Ireland tighthead prop wore the red and the blue but unlike others claiming that distinction, alone he stands in one area.

Wallace never lost against Leinster while playing for Munster and never lost against Munster while playing for Leinster. In short he's never been on the losing side in a clash between the two provinces, although a couple of the matches were drawn.

Born in Cork, Wallace experienced a brief educational hiatus to his upbringing by the river Lee, when the family moved to Limerick and he attended Crescent College Comprehensive for three years before returning to Cork to study and play rugby with UCC.

"I played Munster Schools, under-20s and under-21s and got into the senior squad more often than I would have, thanks to a couple of indiscretions by Peter Clohessy. I moved to Dublin in 1993 but continued playing for Munster the following season. At that point I had to weigh up several factors. Peter (Clohessy) and Paul McCarthy were both international tighthead props playing with Munster.

"So even though we had won the interprovincials series in my last season there I decided to switch allegiances to Blackrock College and, provincially, to Leinster. In my first season with Leinster we won the interpros so I have been very fortunate in that regard.

"I subsequently moved to Saracens and then in 2000 came back to Leinster.

"I've never really attached a huge importance to the name of the club or province with which I have been playing. I have always placed a greater emphasis on playing with and for friends and team-mates. My loyalty is to my team-mates and but for the ankle injury, I might still be playing with Leinster."

Wallace smiles when he recalls the attitude of Munster players to their Leinster counterparts.

"I suppose it's what every capital city team suffers.

"Leinster were seen as a Dublin team rather than from the province and there was a certain patrician way in which they conducted themselves.

"Munster looked at themselves as underdogs and they would compensate for any perceived lack of natural flair with grit, determination and a will to win. Things haven't changed in that regard. In Leinster we had quite a few players from the province and a good team to boot.

"We threw away that Heineken Cup semi-final against Cardiff in 1995/1996 and when I came back won the Celtic League and then suffered another horrendous European semi-final defeat to Perpignan."

And what of Sunday's game?

"Well the single best thing that has happened to Leinster is the wake-up call they received in the Borders and Llanelli matches. In the latter game they endured a shambolic 30 minutes where the lineout was simply appalling.

"It had nothing to do with the hooker as they didn't get anyone in the air. It's good that happened then as it will serve to refocus Leinster minds.

"Much has been made of the game between the teams at the RDS but Paul O'Connell was only just returning from injury and neither Donncha O'Callaghan nor John Hayes started that game. Munster are going to attack the Leinster set piece, play the tramlines and get Ronan O'Gara to kick to the corners.

"They have the best lineout in the Northern Hemisphere. Leinster though only need 40 per cent possession but it has to be top quality and that will be their opponents' focus - to deny them quality ball.

"John Kelly should be named in the centre, where he'll do a good job and is a very underrated player. Munster will look to build momentum and are quite clinical when getting into an opponent's 22.

"They are not so good at scoring from long range. I expect Leinster to peg Munster back while the latter will look to slow down Leinster possession and take them on in the tight, generating momentum. It's a given that Munster will play well in this match. The evidence is there in the history books.

"Leinster demonstrated a lot of bad habits in the Llanelli game and they really have to turn up mentally for the whole match. They need that 40 per cent quality possession, and if they can manage that they will win the match.

"It'll be disappointing for me whichever side lose. If Leinster had lost to Toulouse I would have been very upset but if they lose to Munster I won't take it as badly. I will be supporting Leinster on the day with the proviso that David (Wallace) has an outstanding game and wins the man-of-the-match award. I am proud to be from Cork - I cheer on the Cork hurlers - but my loyalty will always lie with friends and team-mates."