Super Rugby-winning centre Willis Halaholo is due to make his Cardiff Blues debut on Friday night and head coach Danny Wilson expects the Kiwi to light up the Guinness PRO12 before long. Halaholo, the former understudy of All Blacks legends Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, was one of the Hurricanes’ standout stars as they won their maiden Super Rugby title in August. Now he is set to make his mark in a Blues jersey against Benetton Treviso – having signed a three-year contract earlier this year – alongside former Hurricanes teammate Rey Lee-Lo in the centres. Wilson has made eight changes to his team, including a first regional outing for Wales Under-20s wing Rhun Williams, as he looks to arrest a run of three Guinness PRO12 defeats. And though he is not expecting miracles from Halaholo on debut, Wilson is excited to see what his new charge can do. Wilson said: “He may take a little time to settle into the way we play, the structures and the rest of it, especially in the heat of the moment, but from an individual point of view he looks a class act. “Most people who have watched him play will say his attacking strength is pretty obvious. He is powerful, he has good footwork and he played starting centre in the Hurricanes side that have just won the Super Rugby title so he comes with good pedigree. “We have worked on having a bit more urgency on attack and defence, getting into our attacking shape a bit quicker than against the Scarlets and likewise into our defensive positions. “Treviso are a very different proposition at home to what they are away, you only get a grip of that once you experience it. They are a tough side to beat at their place. “We will go there with a group that will learn from being out there and that experience, but with a target to win the game.” Treviso have proved a banana skin for the Welsh regions in recent times as the Italians have won three of their four last home games against teams from the country. But the Blues have been resilient on their travels of late having suffered just one loss in six away games in all competitions – and Wilson says this is a must-win game as far as their top-six credentials are concerned. “It’s a big achievement when you go to those places and win. It was certainly a big achievement going to Zebre and winning. We go to Treviso and our aim is exactly the same,” he added. “If you are going to be challenging for things and in the top six, those are the types of games you go and win. “As we know many sides go to Treviso and slip up or find it very difficult, we are not taking this lightly; we know it will be a great win if we can get it.” Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 12, Treviso won 3, Cardiff Blues won 8 with 1 match drawn. At Stadio Monigo, 8.15pm local time (7.15pm UK & Ireland) Live on Sky Sports Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 53rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Dewi Phillips (WRU), Andrea Piardi (FIR) Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (FIR) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
