Treviso vs Cardiff Blues - team announced

The Blues have made five changes to the team that narrowly lost to Munster last Friday.

There are two changes in the backs with Ben Blair starting at fullback and Ceri Sweeney at inside centre. Chris Czekaj moves to the wing from 15 in place of Tom James who moves down to the bench.

There are three changes in the forwards. Xavier Rush has recovered from illness and will start at Number 8 with Molitika moving to the bench. In the front row T Rhys Thomas and Sam Hobbs start with Ryan Tyrell and John Yapp also moving to the bench.

The Blues face a Benetton Treviso side that have lost their last four matches in the RaboDirect PRO12 since their 37-14 home win over Aironi on New Year’s Eve.

Cardiff Blues have never lost to an Italian opponent in any competition and have beaten Treviso in all three previous encounters. However, the Italians are unbeaten in their last three home games against Welsh regions in all competitions.

Benetton Treviso V Cardiff Blues
At StadioMonigo, 4.30pmlocal time (3.30pmUK & Ireland)

Cardiff Blues 15 Ben Blair 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Gavin Evans 12 Ceri Sweeney 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Dan Parks 9 Richie Rees

8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Cory Hill 3 Scott Andrews 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Sam Hobbs

16 Ryan Tyrell 17 John Yapp 18 Ryan Harford 19 Macauley Cook 20 Maama Molitika 21 Lewis Jones 22 Harry Robinson 23 Tom James

Not available due to injury:
Casey Laulala - hamstring
Fau Filise - shoulder
Dafydd Hewitt - hamstring
James Down - ankle
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulders

To me that sounds like a backline with zero creativity in it. Think it'll be a territory game with the hope that the counter attacking from the back 3 will create some problems. Decent enough pack though especially the back row.

Where's Henson? Unless Gatland is keeping him with Wales. I really don't understand why you would play Sweeney at 12 ahead of him.

To be honest i can see Treviso winning this one.

Pardon my ignorance but who are the 20 players not being offered a new contract? M.Williams, Parks, who else?

Ahh just read that Henson has been ruled out with a calf strain.

Henson is out, Hewitt is still injured and Roberts is away.

Still, we should be giving Cory Allen or Owen Williams a chance - or at least moving James to 13 rather than having 2 wingers on the bench.