Wallace only Lion set for South Africa

Paul Wallace is the only one of the four Irish Lions who toured South Africa last summer to have made himself available for Ireland's tour to the veldts next month.

Irish captain Keith Wood and Jeremy Davidson have been granted a release from touring duty, articulated in an official missive from the IRFU. Eric Miller has requested that he too be omitted from the travelling party on the grounds of persistent niggling injuries and mental fatigue.

The Leicester number eight has spoken with the Irish management team of Warren Gatland and Pat Whelan and hopes to receive their decision early next week. "They have been very understanding and are aware of my feelings on the matter.

"I have basically had only three weeks off in the last two years and feel that as next season is World Cup year, I would like to start injury-free and refreshed. It's going to be a long season anyway with a summer tour to Australia in 12 months time, followed by the World Cup.

"I am not first choice at the moment and they know of what I am capable, so therefore there may be a little less need for me to travel. I have been struggling with my form and I feel that a rest is the answer."

Irish captain Wood conceded: "I have struggled with my fitness and form this season and I've also been battling injury. I now have a chance to do some serious fitness work rather than going on tour and coming back jaded."

Wood pointed out that his priority was to "recharge the batteries" for a season that contains the World Cup as an ultimate goal. Davidson has not played since damaging cruciate ligaments in his knee last year and it was felt that he would be better served by regaining full fitness in a less pressurised environment.

Wallace's commitment to touring is staggering when one considers the workload he has embraced since returning from the Lions tour. He has togged out for every single Saracens match this season, and only in one game did he neither start nor come on as a substitute.

In all probability he will play in the London club's four remaining league matches, including Sunday's top of the table clash with Newcastle at Vicarage Road, and the Cup final.

"I suppose I've been kept busy," he said, laughing. "But I could not bear to miss out on South Africa and I'm sure that I won't have the same workload down there.

"There is really no other recognised tighthead at Saracens so they occasionally throw in Argentinian Roberto Grau. He hates playing there. I've come off a couple of times, injured, and he complains, `hey Wally, what you do to me'.

"We have the Newcastle game on Sunday, where I'll be propping against Poppy (Nick Popplewell) again and then three other matches. The Cup final is on May 9th with the last league game around the 15th. The following week I will be heading off with Ireland.

"I'll have a week off in between and maybe do some light work for the first week or the tour so that should allow me to recharge the batteries. Then I'll be ready for Oz (du Randt, the South African prop). I know I will be a marked man but that is just part and parcel of the sport. I can genuinely say that I am looking forward to the tour."