Kelly ready for the challenge

JOHN KELLY has faced some huge challenges in his career but reckons one of the biggest will come against Heineken Cup minnows Viadana this evening.

In ordinary circumstances, Kelly should be relaxed as he prepares to help Munster to what should be a conclusive victory, but there will be one nagging worry for him tonight the spectre of young Mossie Lawlor.

Kelly is back in the side after injury, returning for his first full game since Munster beat Perpignan at Thomond Park on October 19 and for his first taste of competitive rugby since damaging his knee against Australia last month.

He is aware of his good fortune in being able to command a place today and points out that Lawlor was unlucky. "He has done brilliantly since he came in for me and Anthony Horgan and has been scoring tries at will. I am delighted to be back but I have to feel sympathetic towards Mossie."

The Irish international has, however, done the business for Munster, and indeed for Ireland, over a period of time and that was one reason why the cards fell in his favour.

"It was a tough call to make and we had to give it a bit of thought. At the end of the day, John had the edge on experience and, of course, he is a brilliant player," said coach Alan Gaffney this week.

But while that comment was welcome news for Kelly, he acknowledges that he will have to perform. "I won't be hanging back waiting for things to happen. I'll have to go out there and prove myself all over again. It's a good thing for the squad that people cannot take things for granted."

That said, he has no concerns about his injured knee. "I was worried I would be out a bit longer but these last couple of weeks have been pretty good.

"I knew I was coming right about 10 days ago when I played a game of tip rugby with the squad and found I was able to turn on the knee. That gave me a bit of confidence to take on the full physical stuff again and I've been going at full belt for over a week now.

He is conscious that it is easy to come a cropper as well. When Munster beat Viadana by 64 points last week, Kelly was impressed, but believes this game will present his side with a major challenge.

"Of course we believe we can win it. Of course we want to win it by as big a margin as possible, but Viadana will be a different proposition in front of the home fans. We really didn't get much of a notion as to what they are capable of last week. I'm sure if they can win a bit of possession, they will be very dangerous. They are well capable of scoring and also capable of putting it up to the opposition.

"Because of that, we believe we cannot afford to perform below our capabilities. If we do, we could be in a bit of bother."

Although Kelly insists his main preoccupation is Munster's game, he admitted he will be interested in the result of the other Pool 2 fixture, the Perpignan and Gloucester match.

"It is turning out to be a really tough group although that is what we expected.

"The thing is that one team could finish with 10 points and still not qualify for the quarter-finals. It's up to us to keep winning and hope that will be enough."

Jerome Paarwater, Viadana head coach after former coach Franco Bernini was appointed technical director of the team, reckons this game will be a very hard ask for his team.

"Our approach will be a defensive one. I know Munster are quite strong on set pieces and I am pretty sure the game will be decided between scrums and lineouts.

But we will give our best, for sure."

ARIX VIADANA: Steyn; Dolcetto, Frasca, Crane, Pedrazzi; Pickering, Roux; Farani, Persico, Phillips; Bezzi, Gumiero; Bocchini, De Bellis, Savi. Subs: Jimenez, Spina, Buhrmann, Vigna, Aio, Bettati, A Accorsi.

MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; J Williams (captain), A Foley, A Quinlan.Referee: A Ireland (Scotland).