RUGBY: Gavin Cummiskey finds Ireland's most-capped international in upbeat mood before the clash with Toulouse.

Exactly a year ago, Malcolm O'Kelly gave an interview on the steps of the Pavilion in Trinity College. Leinster's international players had been absent for the guts of 10 weeks and the Leicester Tigers were coming to town.

The most-capped Irishman made all the right sounds but lacked the enthusiasm he exuded at yesterday's media conference in the RDS.

The line of inquiry was similar this week, although a couple of disparities are evident: A successful Six Nations and Michael Cheika has replaced Declan Kidney, who is now happily back home in Munster.

Last year Ireland had just flopped miserably in the Millennium Stadium. A second successive Triple Crown instead became a Welsh Grand Slam. The chorus of Bread of Heaven was still ringing in their ears.

This season's return to earth has been cushioned by a different coaching mentality.

Before the regime change, a player schism had been developing. When the internationals returned from Six Nations duty, several frontline Celtic League players were forced back to dirt-tracker status.

Plenty of bitching ensued behind closed doors. Cheika dodged this pitfall by arranging a social gathering on the Monday after Twickenham. Imagine Declan Kidney fronting a session for the lads?

"When we go away for such a long time there can be an us and them scenario that can come into a camp," noted O'Kelly. "But there has been none of the niggle that has been there the past few years. The management have been really good. It's been really focused. There seems to be a great structure here. They have done everything they possibly can for us to have the right preparation."

What's the secret to avoiding tension between 30 men? "It's hard to put your finger on how it spawns or manifests but there certainly wasn't any of that when we came back (this year).

"We were embraced, taken in. We had an evening out together. Everybody seemed so happy. There was no bullshit, which is fantastic and must be credit to the management."

So, Leinster are happy campers. They would want to be considering an even more intimidating task than Leicester awaits. There might be in excess of 5,000 supporters en route to Toulouse but 30,000-plus home fans will be waiting.

A former comrade-in-arms will also be there to greet O'Kelly with open arms.

Although highly cautious of a Trevor Brennan embrace, O'Kelly still holds his one-time St Mary's clubmate in high regard.

"I'm sure he has a lot of points to prove. I respect Trevor hugely as a player. I was surprised that Leinster let him go at the time. I thought he was turning into a very hardy secondrow. As it turned out that's what he did become. He has a great engine."

To Brennan, this is an unfamiliar Leinster pack. Only O'Kelly, Eric Miller, Keith Gleeson and Reggie Corrigan would have memories of the villainous Barnhall bruiser approach to training sessions.

"Firstly, I hope he is playing. I'm sure he will be. I couldn't imagine their coach would live if they didn't pick Trevor. So he is going to be mad for it. Very aggressive. He's going to try and dominate up front so it will be up to Leinster to try and counter that. We'll do it the same way we do every time. Just play hard rugby, you know? Stick to the plan. Not get rolled into any mischief that Trevor might throw out at us."

While reflecting on the career path Brennan has charted since leaving Dublin in 2002, O'Kelly revealed he too could have tasted the French experience. In 1999, after a stint with London Irish, O'Kelly plumped for the improving IRFU structures ahead of Castres Olympique.

"To be honest I don't regret it because it was the right move for me to come back. I ended up getting 80 caps for Ireland and reaching a really high level of play and physical condition. I don't regret a second."

"It's fantastic for Trevor to have achieved what he has achieved - still I'm sure he'd love to have played for Ireland on more regular occasions. Maybe that wasn't to be or maybe it was the fact he went to France. It's hard to know.

"I'll talk to him after the game and probably on the pitch!"