It was difficult to discern any anxiety at the time because his body language did not exhibit signs of the mental anguish he was supposed to be feeling.

In front of 5,000 spectators and a television audience, it takes a special kind of resolve to remain composed when your game appears to have disintegrated.

This was not just any old match for Paddy Wallace. It was his first senior interprovincial and, aged 22, he found himself playing out of position at full back for Ulster against Leinster at Donnybrook. In the first five minutes, he had been notable for his largesse to the opposition, giving away a try.

For the next 15, he suffered the kind of fate that should have given him palpitations and a desire to stick his head into the Donnybrook turf, ostrich fashion, or run through the gates and hop aboard the next available 46A bus.

His "crimes" included a couple of missed touches, one dropped garryowen and being caught out of position.

Wallace, though, showed a maturity that belied his tender years by the end of the 80 minutes and, although his team had lost comprehensively, he emerged from the game with credit. His counter-attacking, distribution and punting could not be faulted, his performance all the more laudable given such a opening.

The former Campbell College pupil recalls the events of the evening in question. "I remember just grabbing the ball before it hit the hoarding and turning around to see that, even though we were only a few metres from our line, Neil McMillen (Ulster flanker) was in loads of space. I decided then to take the quick throw.

"I never saw Malcolm O'Kelly until this Inspector Gadget-like arm came out and grabbed the ball. I just smiled and chuckled to myself. What else could I do? I'd made a mistake and now just had to get on with it."

Paddy Johns offered a few words of consolation in the huddle behind the posts, telling him not to let his head drop.

"I was taking the restart and as I was walking to the halfway line, I caught Brian O'Driscoll's eye and saw that he was laughing (the two were friends and former team-mates at UCD). The next 15 minutes or so were horrible.

"I made so many mistakes but I had to keep going. I concentrated on doing something right, just one thing, and letting my confidence build from there." Few who witnessed his rehabilitation would question his temperament or aptitude to play at this level.

Wallace's schools rugby career began in Campbell College and culminated with him representing his province at that level. He was considering his future when he was made aware that John McClean, the director of the UCD rugby academy, would be attending an interprovincial with a view to offering him a scholarship. "I was awful that day and thought that I had blown it.

"Fortunately, John happened to turn up later in the season when I was playing for Campbell against Terenure College and my performance must have convinced him to offer me a place."

The young Ulsterman decided not to pursue a sports science degree, but to study for a business degree outside the college.

His next representative action saw him chosen for the Ireland team for the FIRA Under-19 World Championships in France in 1998. The team was coached by Declan Kidney.

"I remember we went out to France early and stayed in this little hotel outside Toulouse. The training was very hard that week."

Wallace played at full back in the first match against the USA, but would subsequently play a starring role at outhalf.

Ireland's passage to the final against France was not without incident. In their game against South Africa, the teams were tied and it was decreed that there would be a penalty shoot-out.

Ireland lost, but Wallace's father Paul noticed that one of the South Africans who took a place kick had not played in the match. The Irish protest was upheld.

The final represents one of the finest moments in Irish rugby. Ireland beat France 18-0 and Wallace, playing in a team that included O'Driscoll, scored a superb individual try. Wallace pays tribute to the man who masterminded the success.

"Declan was a great coach. His attention to detail was brilliant. He left nothing to chance. For example, in one of our early games he noticed how pumped up the team got prior to the start of the match, grabbing each other and shouting and roaring.

"He pointed out that the game starts with the whistle and there was no point expending any energy before hand. He emphasised how important it was to remain focused."

There was no huddle prior to the final. The Irish team stood tracksuited, looking calm and relaxed as they stood for the national anthems. "Declan was also excellent on a one-to-one basis in helping you to develop your game. I would love to work with him again in the future."

Wallace became a member of both the National and UCD academies and his development as a player continued through the under-21 national team. His versatility and the presence of Jeremy Staunton meant that he filled the unfamiliar role of outside centre to good effect - Shane Moore, who had led Ireland to the Toulouse triumph, was inside centre.

Having finished with UCD, where he played at outhalf, centre and the odd time full back, he was given a contract with Ulster for this season, a fact that brought great relief as he had missed most of last season with a broken leg.

Ulster coach Alan Solomons has already singled out Wallace for especial praise, a supposition vindicated by his inclusion in the team, albeit at full back.

He has adapted extremely well, looking forward to the differing demands of the position and his development as a player. It shouldn't stop at provincial level.