THEY ARE an exclusive group who hold a very special place in the annals of rugby in these islands. They are the men who have played for the

Lions in winning Test series this century in South Africa.

That feat has been achieved just twice, in 1974 and on the current tour. Seven Irishmen have had that distinction, Four of that seven joined the "club" over the last few weeks. Only three of that magnificent seven can, as yet, lay claim to having played in every Test match in a winning series. They are the men of 1974, Willie John McBride, Dick Milliken and Fergus Slattery.

When the Lions face the Springboks this afternoon, two more will have that distinction: Jeremy Davidson and Paul Wallace.

But for injury, Keith Wood and Eric Miller would, in all probability, also have had that honour.

Two of the seven are second row forwards, McBride and Davidson; two are back row players, Slattery and Miller, one a hooker, Wood, one a centre, Milliken, and one a prop, Wallace. But Wallace stands apart from the other six in that he was not an original selection for the tour. His achievement of being selected for every Test on the current tour is, in the circumstances, a tremendous tribute to him.

When the Lions 35-man squad was selected, Wallace was not included. The props selected were Clohessy, David Young, Tom Smith, Graham Rowntree and Jason Leonard.

"I was very disappointed to lose out," said 25-year-old Wallace. "I felt I was in with a good chance. I knew I was on the standby list, but that was not much in the way of consolation."

Wallace was then chosen for the Ireland Development tour to New Zealand and Western Samoa. He joined the Irish squad in Limerick the same week as the Lions assembled in London.

"By that time, I suppose I had got over my disappointment and was looking forward to going with Ireland." In fact, his younger brother David was also in the Ireland squad

"and I was excited at the prospect of playing with David. We have not played on the same team."

Then on the Monday prior to the departure of both Ireland and the Lions, Clohessy failed a fitness test and the call went out to Wallace.

"It all happened very quickly. I was very surprised to get the call, so it was a case of getting on a plane to London to join the Lions, rather than on one to New Zealand. In fact, I met Peter at Heathrow. He was on his way home, very disappointed and I was on my way to join the Lions. It appears as if Peter's career and mine are constantly interwoven."

Two great landmarks in Wallace's career have taken place in South Africa and in each instance he got his chance because of the unavailability of Peter Clohessy.

In 1995, Wallace, then uncapped, was selected for Ireland's World Cup squad as understudy to Gary Halpin as Clohessy was unable to travel for business reasons. Wallace played against Japan in Bloemfontein in the World Cup. That afternoon, he joined his older brother, Richard, in the Ireland team. They were the first pair of brothers to play together for Ireland since Mick and Tom Doyle in 1968.

When Paul got that cap, he completed the international set. While a student at Crescent Comprehensive, he played for Ireland Schools and went on to captain Ireland at under-21 level. As a student at UCC, he played for the Irish Development and A sides, as well as the Irish Universities and Irish Students.

He won his second international cap against Fiji in November 1995 and played against the United States in Atlanta in January 1996, but lost out to Clohessy for the start of the 1996 championship. When Clohessy was suspended after the match against France in February 1996, it was to Wallace that the Ireland selectors again turned and he has been first choice ever since.

By playing for the Lions, Paul has emulated the achievement of brother Richard, who joined the Lions tour to New Zealand in 1993 as a replacement. But by gaining Test selection, Paul has achieved a distinction that eluded Richard.

They are a great rugby family, the Wallaces. Last season all three brothers played for Ireland at three different levels, Paul at senior, Richard at A and David at u nder-21, on the same weekend. Paul and Richard are also the first Irish brothers to play for the Lions since the beginning of the century when, by a remarkable coincidence, two brothers also named Wallace achieved the feat. The families are not related.

Paul has surprised many here by his performances, but they have been equally impressed.

Wallace himself was under no illusions about the task facing him in South Africa. "I knew I faced very tough opposition to get into the Test team," he said. David Young and Jason Leonard offered stern opposition to Wallace for the tight head berth. "But once I was in the squad, I was determined to offer a challenge for a Test place," said Wallace.

IT WAS not until the fourth match of the tour that Wallace earned his first outright selection. He had come on as a replacement in one match, but his first start was against Mpumalanga. He played extremely well and from that point on, he staked his claim.

"Things went well for me, but I was not sure I was going to make the team for the first Test." Well, make it he did, in every sense of the word.

"There was a belief that the Springboks front row would do a demolition job on us, Keith Wood, Tom Smith and myself. We never felt that would happen and it did not. I had played with Keith several times and knew his worth and Tom Smith has been excellent on this tour. Apart from the first few minutes in the first Test, we have been comfortable in the scrums," said Wallace.

It is a singular tribute to that

Lions front row that, in fact, it is the Springboks who have made the changes in that area.

Now a full-time player with Saracens, he "agonised a long time" before deciding to play as a full-time professional. At the time, he was working with a building society in Dublin and playing with Blackrock College.

"I decided before the start of last season that I would go to Saracens and have not regretted it ... I am about to sign a new two-year contract with the club. I got leave of absence from my job in Dublin, but I do not think I will be returning to Ireland, not for the next few years at any rate.

"This tour has been a tremendous experience for me and the rest of the players . . . I will never forget the feeling after the final whistle blew in Durban last week. The atmosphere was just unbelievable.

"There is a huge incentive for us now to make it three out of three. It was the Springboks who were favoured to whitewash us. The spirit in this squad and the manner in which it has been managed have been magnificent. It has been a great experience and honour to have been part of this tour."

"I think the Lions have rendered rugby in Britain and Ireland a service and proved that we can compete and win against the big powers in the southern hemisphere."

And what of Ireland and the immediate future?

"I think Ireland can build a really good side for next season. I hope that those of us here will come back better players. I hope to play a part in an Irish recovery next season."

There is little doubt that Wallace and his three Irish colleagues here have important roles to play for Ireland next season. But whatever lies ahead, Paul Wallace has joined a very exclusive club.

There are those who believe the best is yet to come from this extremely personable young man who has embellished his reputation in the demanding theatre of Test rugby. He is the latest in the list of great Irish prop forwards to leave an indelible mark on the scene.