In the Heineken Cup return tie just six days after Saracens hammered them by 71 points to 7, Vidana regrouped, refreshed and run Sarries ragged in the opening half hour to register a try bonus point while the Men in Black were left wondering what had hit them.
 

After the break our boys pulled themselves together and overturned a 23-3 deficit to win 34-26 when Del Boy outran the cover for the injury time try that cruelly denied Viadana a deserved losing bonus point.

Afterwards Love was seething about the referee’s second half performance during which he sin-binned flanker Josh Sole and penalised Viadana off the park. Of course, there were no such outbursts from Alan Gaffney who was mightily relieved to get away with a win when it looked, for all intents and purposes, that another humiliating defeat in Italy was on the cards.

Post-match, the Tifosi – known as I Miclas – were most welcoming and many friends were made over many rounds in the excellent clubhouse, which has now been refurbished and extended for this season. Also new at the Zaffanella for 2008-09 are a new stand with 2,000 seats and upgraded floodlights.

As for the match itself, Saracens know after last season that this is not going to be one be taken lightly, especially as Viadana has strengthened its squad this season with former Guinness Premiership stars Gavin Quinnell (ex of Worcester), Sam Cox and Sean Hohneck (Bristol) and Phil Murphy (London Irish and Canada) complimenting Italian internationals Sole, Kaine Robertson, and aptly-named wing Samuele Pace.

Viadana and Sarries go into Round 2 with victories behind them after their opening matches and the Italian team impressed everyone with an outstanding 21-10 win away at Bayonne, scoring three tries through fullback Steven Bortolussi, Fijian wing Isy Coalala and Robertson with Scotland A international Garry Law kicking the conversions.

In their domestic Super 10 competition, Viadana lie in third place after four rounds, with three wins, notably an impressive away victory at erstwhile leaders Overmach Parma a fortnight ago.

Jim Love has named a 24-man preliminary squad for the match which kicks off at 6pm BST and text commentary for which will be available on the official Saracens web site:

MPS Viadana squad:

Mattia Cagna, Ignacio Rouyet, Luigi Milani, Miguel Alonso, Juan Battilana, Roberto Santamaria, Sean Hohneck, Quintin Geldenhuys, Gavin Quinnell, Josh Sole, Phil Murphy, Jaco Erasmus, Aldo Birchall, Pablo Canavosio, Charlie Hore, Lloyd Johansson, Sam Cox, Matt Harvey, Samuele Pace, Kaine Robertson, Steven Bortolussi, Isoa Neivua, Ross Curle, Garry Law.

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