Rugby World Cup 2011: Murphy sorry for injured Wallace
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Injured flanker David Wallace has been given a message of support from Geordan Murphy - a man who knows what it is like to miss out on a World Cup place.
Wallace sustained a bad knee injury in Saturday's friendly defeat by England and a similar fate befell Murphy who broke a leg before the 2003 tournament.
"David looked in a lot of pain. I have been in that situation," said the Leicester skipper.
"The worst time to get an injury is just before you go out to a World Cup."
Murphy added: "It is a huge, huge disappointment. So much effort and work has gone into the last year.
"If you miss out then there is a dark cloud hanging over your head for quite a few weeks.
"David is a fantastic player for us. We do have options in the back row, but David will be sorely missed."
While Murphy suffered injury heartbreak eight years ago, this time he has profited from the misfortune of another.
The 33-year-old secured his place in Ireland's squad only after Felix Jones had been ruled out with ankle ligament damage.
Murphy said the World Cup could be his Ireland swansong and that Saturday's final warm-up match was probably his last in Dublin.
"It was quite emotional. I had always intended to seriously consider retiring from international rugby after the World Cup," said Murphy.
"I have not thought about that in depth, but if I do then Saturday will have been my last run out on home soil."
Only 10 days ago Murphy had accepted he would not be going to New Zealand.
"I was told last Tuesday week that there was no place for me in the squad," said Murphy.
"I played against Connacht on the Thursday and flew back to Leicester on the Friday.
"Due to injury I was called back in and then because of an injury to Rob Kearney I was back in the Test team.
"There was a full array of emotions - from disappointment to elation and then back to disappointment with not getting the win against England.
"I was injured in January and the doctor said it would be very difficult to get on the plane to New Zealand.
"I am excited, I won't lie. I thought it was a lost cause and was chasing a lost cause for a lot of the year. I pulled out a lot of stops to get there."
