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.

A week ago Kelly was looking forward to lining out in the Celtic League against Cardiff Blues but strained an Achilles tendon in training and had to withdraw. "I'm really looking forward to it. I'm really raring to go. Nothing changed during the time the international guys were away. It's great fun being involved with Munster, a great group of guys, good work ethic but a bit of enjoyment as well."

Tomorrow in Bourgoin Kelly expects the fun to stop. "This is really going to be a tough one and, from what video evidence we have seen to date, it's likely to be a war of attrition between the two sets of forwards.

"They don't have the star names that other French teams can boast of, but they are a very workmanlike side with a very good record this season.

"They're big strong boys who will try to grind us down in the set pieces and in the mauls We've got to ensure we win a decent amount of possession and we stand up to them physically." He fervently hopes to see some of that possession. Though one of Eddie O'Sullivan's favourites at international level, Kelly is conscious that he still needs to perform to keep his place in the Munster set-up.

"I don't think anyone can take anything for granted. Guys like Shaun Payne and Mossie Lawlor have performed well for the team. Mossie has been virtually ever-present while us guys were in Australia and he has played outstandingly well.

"He was unlucky not to get his place in the side for this weekend but he will be breathing down our necks over the next few weeks. He's a real quality player with a very bright future, so people like myself really have to stay a step ahead. The only way to do that is through performance.

"We will take nothing for granted against Bourgoin and have taken no notice of being installed as one of the favourites to win the Heineken Cup. We have had a great run over the last four years, lots of good times amongst the disappointment of not quite making it to the top, but the past has limited relevance to the future.

"French teams are notoriously difficult to beat at home. The good thing from our point of view is that we go there in positive mood. We don't have any real baggage because we know we're good enough to beat anyone on our day, and there is no particular fear of playing in France anymore. There hasn't been for a while."