Munster’s Tommy O’Donnell wary of Treviso threat

Tommy O’Donnell is wary of the Treviso threat as Munster target their “rightful” place in the last four of the Guinness Pro 12.

Munster’s final leg of regular season games begins with the first of three ties – two at home – at Musgrave Park on Saturday (3.05pm) and O’Donnell is under no illusions that the Italian side will be a difficult assignment.

“Yes, I think every game from here on in is going to be big. We know what we are targeting — we are targeting a semi-final and final. Every game is about playing for the top four. Treviso are playing to be in the Champions Cup next season. They have to try and stay ahead of Zebre. It’s going to be a tough game and a physical battle. We have to go out and give our best performance, try and keep our noses in front, be as good as we can be.”

Is Saturday a banana skin game potentially? “If you approach it in the wrong way, it will be a slip up. But we are not approaching it in a lackadaisical way. It is not like it is in the middle of the Six Nations. We have a strong team out, we know what we have to do. There is only points difference separating ourselves and Ulster so we have to approach it like they are the best team in the League.

“Treviso will come over here and put in a physical battle. We have watched their games. They do that. They are a tough team, hard to break down. You have to go out there and give your all, then look for the gaps when the game is getting to a high intensity.”

Munster’s last outing against Edinburgh produced a five-point winning result but O’Donnell knows improvement is necessary as they enter the final straight of a long season.

“You have to be improving the whole time. I suppose there would be areas from the last game we would be looking to improve on, not that many, mind you. It was a good performance but there were one or two things we can tighten up on to be better. However, it’s a good place to be in. It’s nice to have a game at home. Conditions were difficult for the first part of Edinburgh and we did quite well in them. Once we cut out the few mistakes and got rid of those penalties, we did quite well. That is what we will be looking for at the weekend, a complete performance. Discipline is very, very important.”

He is looking forward to playing at the redeveloped Musgrave Park. “It (the ground noise) is sounding good on TV, there is plenty noise coming out of it. It will be my first time playing in the newly-developed stadium. I am really looking forward to it and hopefully maintaining that winning record here.”

O’Donnell is also delighted that Saturday’s game has an afternoon kick off. “It is like the European Cup with the 3pm or 5pm kick-off. I enjoy it. It is early enough in the day, you don’t have to be travelling at 12 o’clock at night after it. I am looking forward to it.”