Kelly says it’s going to be a war of attrition in the forwards

ST FRANCIS’ COLLEGE in Rochestown, on the outskirts of Cork, isn’t a factory for Irish internationals but, surprisingly, for a school that has really only tinkered with rugby, Kelly was the fourth old boy of recent vintage to be capped for Ireland.

When Kelly flew over for two tries on his debut against Italy at Lansdowne Road, he was following in the footsteps of Darragh O'Mahony and brothers, Richard and Paul Wallace, also products of the alma mater.

"One of the highlights of my career was being asked back to speak to the pupils. It was nice to be asked," said Kelly, who prepares for the Heineken Cup clash with Bourgoin tomorrow. After a long and arduous Autumn-adventure with Ireland's World Cup squad, Kelly is back where he feels most at home with Munster.