Cardiff can put cat among pigeons

MAGNERS LEAGUE:LEINSTER, ULSTER and the Ospreys will await with keen interest the outcome of Cardiff's final home game in the Magners League against Treviso tonight (kick-off 7.05).

The Blues, who finish their campaign with away derbies against the Dragons and the Scarlets, are outside the play-off top four but have a game in hand, and a bonus-point win by more than 17 points would see them leap above Leinster into second place on points difference.

The Blues have won all eight of their match-ups with Italian opposition, including a 19-7 win in Treviso back in September, and have named an unchanged side.

“Treviso are a team that caused us bags of problems over in Italy so we know that this won’t be an easy game for us,” maintained Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young.

Nonetheless, he admitted: “If I’m being truthful and realistic it’s a game that we should win and one we have to win.

“Hopefully we can get the result, and then it tees up the two big Welsh derby matches to finish off the season.

“We know if we lose one game we are relying on other people, which obviously we don’t want. I think we’ve wrestled the ascendancy back our way and if we win the three games we go through.

“It’s in our own hands and that’s all you can ask for at this stage of the season.”

Treviso are seeking their maiden away league win at their last attempt of the season, but, with a view to giving more players experience, coach Franco Smith has made eight changes to the team which beat Glasgow Warriors 19-16 last Saturday at the Stadio Monigo.

Brendan Williams is rested and Joe Maddock takes his place as fullback, while there are five changes in the pack.

Meanwhile, Connacht have confirmed their acquisition of scrumhalf Paul O’Donohoe from Leinster. He is the latest member of Ireland’s 2007 Under-20 grand slam-winning team which Eric Elwood coached to link up with the province, joining Andrew Browne, TJ Anderson, Eoghan Grace and Niall O’Connor.

The 23-year-old Belvedere College product and Clontarf scrumhalf has been confined to 16 appearances for Leinster in the last three seasons.

He will add to competition for the Connacht number nine jersey along with Frank Murphy and another ex-Leinster signing, Dave Moore, from Harlequins.

“I am delighted to be signing for Connacht next season,” he said. “I have worked under Eric and Dan (McFarland) in my Ireland Under-20 days and have first-hand experience of how passionate they are about the club and also how ambitious they are.”

Elwood said: “We’re delighted Paul is joining us, I’ve known Paul since he starred for the Ireland Under-20s in ’07 and I believe he’s a top-class player.

“He’s a young, dynamic scrumhalf and will fit very nicely into our set-up here.”