NO COUNTRY can match the number of fathers and sons and brothers who have wom the green jersey as the torch is passed from generation to generation and the proud family traditions maintained.

When in May 1995, Paul Wallace won his first senior cap for Ireland against Japan in the World Cup in Bloemfontein, it was an added and understandable source of pride for him and his family that Paul had his brother Richard as a team mate. They became the latest in the long line of brothers to play for Ireland.

In fact that afternoon when Ireland defeated Japan 50-28, they became the first brothers to play together for Ireland since Mick and Tom Doyle played against Wales in Lansdowne Road in 1968. More recently the Wallace family recorded a unique achievement. On the weekend of January 17-18th, three brothers Paul, Richard and the youngest of the trio David played for Ireland at three different levels against France. Paul in the championship side on the Saturday, Richard played on the wing the previous afternoon for Ireland A and David played on the flank on the Friday morning for the Ireland under 21 team.

Born in Cork, the family subsequently moved to Limerick, and Paul was educated at Crescent Comprehensive. He helped the college to win the Munster Schools Senior Cup, played for Munster at schools level and was on the first Ireland schools side to win the Triple Crown in 1990. The honours came early for Wallace who in fact played for the Ireland schools side for two years.

"I was fortunate to be on very good teams at schools level," said Wallace now with the Saracens club in London having decided at the end of last season to play the game on a full time basis and moved from Blackrock College to Saracens having started his senior career with UCC.

When at UCC he played for Munster at senior interprovincial level but declared for Leinster when he moved to Dublin.

About the decision to go to Saracens he said: "It was not an easy decision to make but I felt that if I did not do it, I might have regrets subsequently. Playing rugby a representative level took up a huge amount of time. It was difficult to balance that with a full time job." His brother Richard subsequently took the same road and is now also playing for Saracens as is Ireland second row Paddy Johns.

There is certainly a multinational aspect to the Saracens team with Francois Pienaar (South Africa), Phillipe Sella (France) and Michael Lynagh (Australia) also with the club and on Saturday Wallace and Johns will be playing against another clubmate Richard Hill. "There is a fair amount of good natured ribbing going on at the club at the moment," said Wallace.

Wallace has played for Ireland at schools, under 21, development and A levels. He was contesting the tight head berth on the Ireland side with Gary Halpin and Peter Clohessy prior to the World Cup. He and Halpin went to the World Cup when Clohessy was not available and while Halpin was first choice in South Africa during the tournament Wallace was chosen against Japan.

Wallace played, against Fiji and the United States last season and scored a try against Fiji. Clohessy returned to the side at the start of the Five Nations Championship, but after Clohessy was suspended following the match against France, Wallace returned to the side against Wales last season and has played in every match since.

On Saturday he will win his 11th cap and plays his eighth consecutive match for Ireland. "I would never take anything for granted," said Wallace "but I suppose you could say I have now, established a regular place in the side and am really enjoying it." He does not have any regrets about deciding to play the game on a full time basis. "I think it has been very beneficial for me. The standard in the English league is good and that has helped my game. Obviously being able to devote my time exclusively to rugby has also helped a lot in every respect," he said.

He believes that the England pack is "very strong" and added: "they have a big pack, but I think that we also have a very good pack and can match them with a collective effort and I am quite sure we are capable of that. I am fairly familiar with most of the England team and have played against most of them this season and, of course with Richard Hill.

"The win over Wales was a tremendous boost in every respects" and now we are in with a chance of the Triple Crown." But he did not want to dwell on that prospect. "The sole focus now is the match on Saturday."

He has found coach Brian Ashton "excellent" in every way. "In stating that I in no way wish to criticise his predecessor. But Brian Ashton has his own perspective on the game and his own methods and he is very familiar with the England players. I think the thoroughness of his preparation of the side for the matches so far has been very evident."

Does he see the match on Saturday as the most important of his career? "I suppose the next match for any player is always the most important, but, yes, in all the circumstances, there is no doubt that this is probably the most important. It should, be a great occasion in every way.

He has played on Ireland sides that have beaten Japan, Fiji, the United States and Wales (twice). That is five wins from 10 internationals. A win on Saturday will tip the scales to six wins from 11 appearances. Does he believe Ireland will win on Saturday? "It will take a huge effort, but we are prepared to give that and I am confident we have the ability to win and I firmly believe we can beat England," he said.